Five dead and 200 hospitalised following deadly gas leak in Vishakapatnam
Andhra Pradesh : Vishakapatnam :May 07 : A deadly gas leak in the early hours of Thursday today claimed five persons including a child were killed while at least 300 others fell ill Toxic gas Leakage reported occurred between 3 and 5 AM at LG Polymers chemical factory located in densely populated RR Venkatapuram under the Gopalapatnam police station limits here on Thursday early morning.The poisonous gas that leaked from the plant is reported to have affected people in a radius of close to three kilometres. The leakage from the polymer plant was noticed after residents in the neighbourhood began experiencing skin rashes, burning sensation in the eyes, breathlessness and vomiting. Panic gripped residents who ran helter-skelter unable to digest what actually has happened.
Many dropped unconscious on the roads and even stray animals like dogs,Birds and goats were found dead on streets .Police claim that many fell unconscious on the road after inhaling the toxic gas emanating from the polymer plant. It is said that the Styrene gas, a key component in the manufacturing of polymer, has leaked from the plant. But as soon as the gas leakage was noticed, the plant authorities rang the siren to alert the people in the neighbourhood and informed the police.
LG Polymers chemical factory was under lockdown till recently and just opened a day before and if the reports are to be believed
the mishap occurred when the factory staff were prepping up the plant for resumption of its production after being closed for over 45 days due to the nationwide Coronavirus lockdown.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy spoke to Visakhapatnam district collector Vinay Chand andSuperintendent of police and he is personally reaching Vizag by noon to take stock of the situation. Mass rescue and relief measures to be taken up on a war-footing by NDRF teams and also mass evacuation is on to take people to safety places in localities affected by the gas leak.
200 admitted in KGH hospital and 80 are reportedly on ventillator when the reports last came in.
