India: Chemical disasters waiting to happen

According to IBNLive, Kochi, one of the major industrial belts, is vulnerable to chemical disasters, said the officials of the Factories and Boilers Department. "Communication is the first vital step in such a situation. How are we supposed to reach the public if we do not have even a phone or a fax connection," asked the officials. "Prevention is the primary step and for that we need to conduct regular checks and inspections. But, we don't have a laboratory with required equipment," sources said.