Tamil Nadu: Officials take stock of 700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored at Manali

CHENNAI: Two days after a blast in the Lebanese capital of Beirut, caused by ammonium nitrate , killed more than 100 people and injured hundreds of others, Customs and fire and rescue services officials in Chennai visited a container freight station at Manali , North Madras where more than 700 tonnes of the explosive chemical is stored.

The huge consignment was seized in 2015 from a Karur-based company which had permission for fertilizer grade chemical but the 740 tonnes imported in 37 containers from Korea was found to be explosive grade .

Now, police have sent a high-level alert to all ports in the state, asking them to check if such explosive material was stocked on their premises. A senior official at a city port said the Union ministry had even sent an official communication, asking officials to conduct a review.

T Samaya Murali, joint commissioner of customs, said the freight station containing the seized cargo was 20km from the city and that there was no residential locality within 2km of it.

Ammonium nitrate is used mainly as a fertiliser, but also used in quarries to cause blasts.

After the consignment was seized by Customs officials from the Karur company, it was moved to Sattva Container Freight Station (CFS) in Manali.

A police officer said Customs officials planned to auction the consignment, but it had been delayed due to Covid-19. “The auction is likely to happen in the next few days.”

Customs officials first conducted a search at Chennai port on Thursday before realizing the consignment was at the container freight station. A detailed inspection was carried out. TN fire and rescue services director C Sylendra Babu also visited the warehouse. Two fire tenders and at least five fire fighters with a fire station officer with necessary equipment have been deployed.

In 2015, Customs and the Chief Controller of Explosives found the Karur-based company had traded the chemical to some explosive dealers. An affidavit submitted in the Madras high court provided a list of 15 companies.

“All safety measures are being taken by the CFS and monitored by Customs. The process of e-disposal of the cargo has been taken up promptly and e-auction completed. The disposal shall be done within a short period, following all safety measures,” the Customs release said.