THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF DANGEROUS GOODS LOGISTICS: INSIDE INDIA'S HIGH-RISK CARGO CHAIN

As India positions itself as a major global manufacturing and logistics hub, the safe handling of hazardous cargo is increasingly emerging as a critical test of the sector’s operational maturity

- 

In the world of global trade and logistics, dangerous goods (DG) cargo forms the invisible backbone of countless industries. From pharmaceuticals and chemicals to paints, batteries, industrial solvents and manufacturing inputs, hazardous cargo moves silently through ports, container freight stations (CFSs), warehouses, ships and aircraft every single day.

Yet, behind this massive movement lies a fragile ecosystem riddled with operational gaps, regulatory inconsistencies, misdeclarations, poor awareness, inadequate infrastructure and systemic complacency.

Recent incidents such as the devastating fire at the JWR Logistics facility near Jawaharlal Nehru Port have once again brought the spotlight onto the hazardous cargo ecosystem in India. Industry insiders say the real problem is not dangerous goods themselves, but the way they are handled.

AN EYEOPENER

The fire incident at the JWR Logistics facility near JNPA has become a stark reminder of the risks embedded within India’s logistics infrastructure.

While investigations may eventually determine the exact cause, industry voices suggest the larger issue extends far beyond a single warehouse or operator. The fire exposed vulnerabilities involving hazardous cargo storage, heat management, documentation practices, emergency preparedness and operational oversight.

For veterans in the DG logistics sector, the warning signs have existed for years. An industry expert in the DG logistics sector recalled how, years ago, shipping lines flatly refused to accept mixed dangerous goods cargo inside a single container.