Amidst the COVID-19 scare in India, another incident of gas leak took place in Vishakhapatnam on Thursday morning. A gas leak at an LG polymers plant killed 11 people and nearly hundreds are hospitalized after the mishap. Emergency services have evacuated thousands of people in the 3-kilometre radius.
The plant was all set to resume its production today. Styrene gas which was leaked earlier today causes nausea and dizziness. Many villagers living closest to the plant on the outskirts of the city were seen lying motionless on the streets. Many parents after the tragic incident carried their children in their arms seeking medical help.
The unfortunate incident reminded everyone of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised all the help to Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The gas leaked at around 2:30 AM and 3:00 AM at RR Venatapuram area near Gopalapatnam. Assistant commissioner of police Swaroopa Rani said many people woke up to the pungent smell of the gas. In fact, most of the children and old people fainted at their homes.
M Goutham Reddy, the Andhra Industries Minister said that the styrene gas leaked from the storage tank of the plant. It is believed that the cap of the storage tank came off after which the incident took place. According to a report in ANI, the Indian Navy reached out to the Vishakhapatnam administration to help the people affected by the gas leakage in the district.
Besides this, the state CM announced Rs 1 crore compensation for the kin of the deceased. With the situation being under control, Vizag city police have registered cases against the management of LG Polymers under sections 337, 338 and 304 of the IPC. Furthermore, the senior district collector V Vinay Chand stated that a glitch in the refrigeration unit led to the gas leak.
After the Vizag gas leak, the centre has asked the chemical manufacturers to be cautious while reopening the plants.
