A huge gas leak at the LG Polymers chemical plant in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh has left 11people dead with over 1,000 affected. The leak took place around 2.30 am on Thursday.
The chemical gas leak that took place in the early hours of May 7 resulted in at least seven dead and 5,000 sick in Vishakhapatnam. The gas leak was reportedly caused by the plastic manufacturing unit of LG Polymers plant, which was left unattended due to the nationwide coronavirus lockdown since March.
Around two tanks of 5,000 tonnes of poisonous gas leaked into Gopalapatnam village situated on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam, causing pandemonium early on Thursday.
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh is monitoring the situation and is soon to reach the port city. He has also directed the district administrators to take every possible step to save lives.
"The gas was leaked out from two 5,000 tonne tanks, which had been unattended since March due to Covid-19 lockdown. It led to a chemical reaction and production of heat inside the tanks, which caused the leakage," Visakhapatnam ACP (West Zone) reportedly was quoted saying to News18.
Rescue measures are currently being underway; however, according to reports, more than 20 villages around the plant are showing effects of the gas leak. RK Meena, Police Commissioner, Vishakapatnam, says the impact of the gas leak is said to be around 1-1.5 km radius, but the odour of the styrene gas was felt 2.5km long. Commissioner also said that an FIR had been lodged.
The municipal corporation fears the death toll to rise as people are being rushed into nearby hospitals with complaints of headache and difficulty in breathing. Several also claimed that they witnessed the trees changing colour due to the intensity of the gas.
National Disaster response force has been rushed to the site and is helping evacuate villages, and more than 2,000 people have been evacuated to safer places. Around 80-90 per cent evacuation has been complete says reports.
About 300 beds are ready, and people have been requested to cover their faces with a wet cloth, informed District Collector V Vinay Chand. The municipal corporation has also been spraying water around the area to reduce the effects of the gas leak.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said he was praying for the safety of all those affected by a toxic gas leak this morning from a chemical plant.
After the gas leakage was reported, Andhra Pradesh's Industries Minister MG Reddy informed that lockdown procedures were initiated in the factory immediately. Local admin was notified about the leak and gas was neutralised to harmless liquid form.
Unfortunately, little gas escaped factory premises and affected people in nearby areas.
On the other side, LG Chem issued a statement on Vizag gas leak stating, "We are currently assessing the extent of the damage on residents in the town and are taking all necessary measures to protect residents and employees in collaboration with related organizations," LG Chem, the owner of LG Polymers, said in a statement.LG Chem said that the gas emitted in the leak can cause nausea and dizziness when inhaled. It said it was seeking to ensure casualties received treatment quickly. It was investigating how the leak occurred.
A company official in Seoul said separately the affected factory was suspended because of lockdown measures caused by coronavirus outbreak at the time of the accident.
As of Thursday afternoon, 11 people have died 1000 people have been exposed to the harmful colourless and odourless gas.
According to recent reports, 25 people are in a critical state.
The chief minister SN Pradhan has said that the National Disaster Relief Force will stay and take charge of the situation until it is in control.
About 500 kg of Para-tertiary butyl catechol (PTBC) chemical will be airlifted from Daman by Andhra Pradesh government for neutralizing the gas leakage in Visakhapatnam plant," Ashwani Kumar, Secretary to Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, was quoted saying in an interview with ANI.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani ordered chemical companies in Vapi to send the chemical by road to Daman after the request of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The gas leak has also disrupted the movement of around 45 trains - nine Shramik Specials and the rest goods carriers - as rail workers suffering from irritation in their eyes and breathlessness halted work. The services came to a halt between 8: 35 am to 12:00 pm in Simhachalam North Railway Station (SCMN) in Vishakhapatnam and have led to some trains stranded. The authorities were prompted to divert the trains as well.
According to SN Pradhan, NDRF DG, the incident that happened around 2:30 AM caused several families to be evacuated immediately. "The initial movement was from the local administration. Around 5:30, the local NDRF unit was informed and it immediately rushed and was there within half-an-hour. About 200-250 families were evacuated," he said in an address to the media.
