Chemical warfare agent used by Indian forces leaks near Jammu Airport
Jammu: In a terrifying incident underscoring India’s persistent disregard for public safety, a leak of mustard sulphur, a chemical warfare agent used by Indian forces, was reported near Jammu Airport, exposing local residents to a highly toxic substance.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the leak occurred at a location roughly 500 metres from the airport and is believed to have originated from a cylinder containing mustard sulphur, a blistering chemical agent historically associated with warfare. The toxic release triggered widespread panic, with several locals reporting breathlessness and other respiratory distress. “I was working in the nursery when I heard a loud hissing sound,” said one resident, while another described the scene as “absolutely terrifying.”
Teams from India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with local firefighters, were deployed to contain the leak. A senior NDRF official stated, “The situation is under control, but we are taking no chances.” Authorities have launched a probe into how a chemical warfare agent came to be stored in a commercial shop so close to a civilian area.
Mustard sulphur can cause severe injuries, including skin burns, eye damage, respiratory complications, and in extreme cases, fatalities. Experts warn that even minor exposure can have lasting health effects.
This incident is part of a disturbing pattern in India, where industrial accidents and chemical leaks have repeatedly endangered civilians. Last year, a gas leak at a plant in Visakhapatnam killed over 40 people and injured hundreds, while a 2020 LPG cylinder leak in Ahmedabad claimed 12 lives.
The leak near Jammu Airport starkly illustrates India’s failure to enforce safety standards and protect its population from preventable disasters, raising urgent questions about accountability and the prioritization of human life over negligence and mismanagement.
