After nearly a five-hour-long hectic efforts by experts, the ammonia gas leakage from a barge, which spread panic among the people in Champakkara area near Kochi, was contained, district administration sources said.

The leakage was contained following hectic efforts by experts from various fields, they said. Earlier several families living in the 2 km radius site of the incident were evacuated to safer places by the district administration as a precautionary measure.

Over 10 people, who complained of breathing problem, nausea and irritation in the eye after breathing the gas, have been admitted to District Hospital here.

However, their condition was not serious, they said. The barge carried over 90 tonnes of ammonia and it started leaking at around 6.30 pm when it was passing through a canal.

The gas was being taken to the Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited  in Eloor from Willingdon Islands here through the canal. Ernakulam district authorities including police, fire force, medical teams and officials from the Disaster Management Authority have been pressed into service to assist people affected by the leakage.