7 Dead, 5 Villages Affected in Vizag Gas Leak

IANS 07 May 2020

Economy & Nation

In scenes reminiscent of the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984, the streets and hospitals of Visakhapatnam were filled with people in panic, scared to breathe and unable to fathom the silent tragedy that struck them.

According to Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation officials, the tragedy took place when the chemical unit, closed due to the lock-down, was being restarted on Thursday morning. The gas stored in tanks began leaking and spread in a radius of 3km. Officials have zeroed in on two gases, styrene and pentine, as the likely causes for the accident.

Early morning sights included people lying unconscious on the streets and dead cattle by the roadside. People, with children strung over their shoulders, ran in panic towards hospitals. Ambulances rushed to the area and transported 70 unconscious people to the King George hospital.

A large number of those hospitalised are children.

Eyewitnesses said that the incident took place around 2.30am. when people were fast asleep in their homes. All of a sudden, people in surrounding areas woke up with a sense of breathlessness, terrible itching and burning sensation in their eyes.

Panic-stricken they rushed out of their homes, only to collapse. Several cattle and livestock also succumbed to the poisonous gas pervading the air.

The impact of the tragedy was reduced to some extent as the plant operatives immediately alerted the authorities following which the district administration swung into action, an official said.

The surrounding areas within a radius of 3kms have been cleared of people and arrangements made for feeding around 7,500 people who have been asked to vacate their homes.

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and home minister (HM) Amit Shah are keepinmg abreast of all details. Mr Modi has started a meeting with NDMA officials to moniter the situation.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy enquired about the gas leak incident in Visakhapatnam and directed the district officials to take every possible step to save lives and bring the situation under control.

The Chief Minister will proceed to Vizag to take stock of the situation and visit the hospital where the affected are being treated. Mr Modi tweeted that he has spoken to officials in the ministry of home affairs. Union minister of state for home affairs G Kishan Reddy is also monitoring the situation.

Officials said that the leak has been sealed and the gas dissipates fast and so the death toll may not increase substantially.

LG Polymers, is among India's leading manufacturer of polystyrene and expandable polystyrene. The plant located at Visakhapatnam, belongs to the Mumbai-based LG Polymers India, which is part of the South Korean group LG Chemical.

Originally set up in 1961, as Hindustan Polymers for manufacturing polystyrene and its co-polymers, the company was merged with McDowell & Co Ltd of UB Group in 1978. It ultimately became part of the South Korean group LG Chemical, in 1997.

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Comments

User

shirish.s

5 years ago

People have not learnt from the Bhopal Gas Tragedy in the year 1984.

A company using harmful gas should be taken away from Municipal area.
Still, this LG polymer factory is within Greater Vishakapatnam Municipal Corporation area.

C V MANIAN

Replied to shirish.s comment 5 years ago

In India, people will never learn because all authorities can be bought. This incident needs to be investigated thoroughly and the people affected compensated. Not the great whitewashing like Bhopal tragedy. The company cannot just walk away from its responsibilities. If LG Chairman can plead guilty for things that happen in S Korea, the same thing can be extended to account for the responsibilities.