Thrissur: High alert has been issued in three panchayat in the district as a tanker lorry carrying phenol overturned at Kuthiran on the Thrissue-Palakkad highway on Thursday. (Phenol is a hydrocarbon-based crystaline solid that is volatile).
As per reports, around 1,000 litres of the highly toxic chemical leaked from the tanker. The authorities said they were removing the contaminated soil from the spot. Around 20 truckloads of soil would be removed from the accident spot.
Local authorties warned families living in three panchayats against using water from their wells if they noticed any changes in water properties.
Authorities found the presence of the chemical in a stream four km away from the spot. Fish in the stream were dead.
However, the absence of rain reduced contamination. Meanwhile, people said the authorities delayed the rescue efforts. Though there was a heated exchange of words between the public and the authorities, the people were pacified by MLA K Rajan.