Andhra Pradesh: 8 deaths, including 2 children, more than 1000 sick due to gas leak in Visakhapatnam chemical plant

Visakhapatnam (Vizag), May 7, 2020: Gas leaked from a chemical plant in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, early today morning. The incident occurred between 2:30 am and 3:30 am. So far 8 people have died, including 2 children. The gas leaked from the LG Polymers industry plant and spread to 5 small villages within a radius of 4 km. The NDRF, SDRF, NDMA and Navy teams are carrying out rescue operations.

The incident took place in Venkatapuram village, about 30 km from Visakhapatnam. More than a thousand people are sick. More than 80 people are hospitalized. 3 are on ventilators. The condition of 15 children is critical. After the accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy over the phone.

Many people reached the spot, fell unconscious there
Andhra Pradesh DGP Damodar Gautam Sawang said that 2 of the 8 people killed died while running away in panic. One of them fell from the second floor of the company, while the other fell into the well. As soon as the news of the incident came, many people reached the spot but fell unconscious there. People were found unconscious in nearby houses also. Some people had red marks on their bodies.

Styrene gas leaked which is used in making fibre, rubber, pipe
The gas that leaked is called PVC. It is a neurotoxin. Its chemical formula is C6H5CH = CH2. This most popular organic solvent is a colourless liquid. It is a stifling gas. If it enters the body while breathing, then it starts showing effect within 10 minutes. This gas is used in polystyrene plastics, fibreglass, rubber and pipe-making plants.

The plant was closed due to lockdown, opened on Wednesday
LG Polymers is a multinational company. It was formed in 1961. Then it was named Hindustan Polymers. In 1978, Vijay Mallya’s UB Group merged into McDowall & Company. LG Polymers has a plant since 1997 in Gopalanattanam area of ​​Venkatapuram village. The plant was closed for a long time due to the lockdown. It was opened for resumption yesterday.

Gas leaked during 5,000-ton storage tank check
The plant has a gas chamber and a neutralizer chamber immediately adjacent to it. When the gas leaked from a tank with a capacity of 5000 tons, an attempt was made to control it through the neutralizer chamber, but by then the situation had become uncontrollable. Andhra Pradesh Industries Minister Gautam Reddy said that the incident occurred when the workers were checking the gas storage tank.

Gas spread in a radius of 4 kilometres
After the leak, the gas had spread over a radius of 4 km. This area includes 5 small villages surrounding it. Gas entered the homes of the people there. People became unconscious after restlessness, difficulty in breathing, vomiting. Many people fainted. Similar pictures continued to emerge from Venkatapuram village till Thursday morning. Many people were seen falling unconscious while standing.

Administration in Action, evacuating 1500 people; Navy team also arrived

After the accident, NDRF, NDMA and state teams started rescue operations. The Navy also dispatched 50 breathing sets, portable air compressors and 2 ambulances. NDRF DG SN Pradhan said that many people have complained of sore throat, skin problems, infections. So far around 1500 people have been evacuated. Those who are seriously ill have been admitted to the King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam.

Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy will visit Venkatapuram village to take stock of the situation. Governor Vishwabhushan Harichandan has asked the Red Cross of Visakhapatnam to join the relief operation.