At least five people have been killed following leakage of poisonous gas from a plant of LG Polymers in Visakhapatnam early on Thursday. According to NDTV, around 200 people have been hospitalised following the accident at the LG Polymers plant in the RR Venkatapuram area of Visakhapatnam. The accident occurred around 3am, according to reports.
Chemical leak in #Vizag: in the wee hours of Thursday, Styrene chemical leak from LG polymer plant on the outskirts of #Vizag in #AndhraPradesh killed multiple people and affected scores. As locals complained of suffocation, admin evacuated them. Dozens rushed to hospital. pic.twitter.com/AXQMxFhpFJ
— Rahul Devulapalli (@rahulscribe) May 7, 2020
According to reports, the gas leaked over a 5km radius, forcing the evacuation of 20 villages. More than 200 people were stranded in their homes. TV footage showed many people lying on the roads; reports said many people fainted when walking away.
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation tweeted, "There is gas leakage identified at LG Polymers in Gopalpatnam. Requesting Citizens around these locations not to come out of houses for the sake of safety precautions."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced he had spoken to officials of the ministry of home affairs and National Disaster Management Authority about the Visakhapatnam gas leak, which was being closely monitored.
Union Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy said he had spoken to the chief secretary and DGP of Andhra Pradesh to take stock of the Visakhapatnam gas leak. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will leave for Visakhapatnam and visit the King George Hospital where the injured are being treated. ANI reported Jagan "is closely monitoring the situation and has instructed the district machinery to take immediate steps and provide all help”.
LG Polymers had reopened on Thursday after being shut due to the lockdown. The plant is owned by South Korea’s LG. NDTV reported, "The plant makes polystyrene and expandable polystyrene, a versatile plastic used to make a wide variety of consumer products like toys and appliances."
