Vizak Gas Leak: Atleast 8 dead, 300 hospitalised, 5000 fall sick after gas leak at LG Polymer plant
বিশাখাপত্তনমের কারখানায় গ্যাস লিক, হত ৮

May 7: At least eight persons died and several hundreds of people fell ill due to a massive gas leakage in LG Polymers company at RR Venkatapuram in Gopalapatnam area of Visakhapatnam in Gopalapatnam area of Visakhapatnam in the wee hours of Thursday. Hundreds of unconscious people and those with breathing difficulties were brought to the King George Hospital in the city. Children and elderly were most affected. An official at KGH said that death toll is likely to go up.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy regarding the Vizag gas leak. He has assured all help and support to the public. Eight people have died, over 300 are hospitalised and more than 5,000 have fallen sick due to the gas leak that took place at LG Polymers Industry at Vizag. Styrene is a common chemical used in the plastic industry. But if the quantities of consumption of very high and the proximity is intense, then it can be lethal.”

#VizagGasLeak update 3 @NDRFHQ Spl chemical accident team continues search & evacuation work assisting local people & admin on site @PIBHomeAffairs @ndmaindia @vizagcitypolice @vizagcollector @HMOIndia @BhallaAjay26 pic.twitter.com/yKzxdHu3cV

— ѕαtчα prαdhαnसत्यनारायण प्रधान ସତ୍ଯ ପ୍ରଧାନ-DG NDRF (@satyaprad1) May 7, 2020

In the meantime, officials have asked people to protect themselves by covering their faces with a wet cloth. In 1984, a chemical leak in a plant in the central city of Bhopal killed thousands of people, in what is acknowledged to be the world’s worst industrial disaster. More than 35 years later, victims say children are still being born with disabilities because of the effects of the spill.

GVMC officials blowing water through mist blowers to subside the effect of Syrene Gas leak at Gopalapatnam area of Visakhapatnam. pic.twitter.com/jBuHMYR4zF

— Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) (@GVMC_OFFICIAL) May 7, 2020

Doctors at the King George Hospital informed that the gas is styrene. They said that it affects the brain and spine of the person who has come in contact with it. “Styrene chemical easily mixes with oxygen when it comes in the atmosphere. This results in increase in the carbon monoxide in the air. People feel suffocated as it affects on the lungs. Later, brain and spine get affected,” the doctors said. The officials were campaigning among the people around to wear wet masks for safety.

Scenes from Gas Leak Incident #Vizag #VizagGasLeak #Visakhapatnam #LGPolymer pic.twitter.com/TUPKYGwdrI

— Vizag Insight (@vizaginsight) May 7, 2020

The police and fire and emergency services have started evacuating a 5-km radius area. Reports said that officials with the emergency services also fell unconscious during evacuations after the gas leak. The police have made announcements, urging people to leave the area, however some are feared to have fallen unconscious inside their homes.