7 people, including a child, died of gas leaking at a chemical plant in Visakhapatnam, more than a thousand sick; 4 km gas spread

Visakhapatnam. Gas leaked from a chemical plant in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, early Thursday. The accident occurred between 2:30 am and 3:30 am. So far, 7 people have died, including a child. The gas leaked from the LG Polymers industry plant and spread to 5 small villages within a radius of 4 km. The NDRF, SDRF, NDMA and Navy teams are carrying out rescue operations.

The accident took place in Venkatapuram village, about 30 km from Visakhapatnam. As soon as the gas leaked, 50 people were found unconscious on the streets. More than a thousand people are sick. More than 80 people are hospitalized. 3 are on ventilators. The condition of 15 children is critical. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy over the phone after the accident.

Many people reached the spot, fell unconscious there

Andhra Pradesh DGP Damodar Gautam Sawang said that 7 deaths have been reported so far. A man lost his life when he fell into a well. The plant in which the accident occurred was closed for a long time due to the lockdown. Many people also reached the spot, but fell unconscious there. People were found unconscious in nearby houses also. Some people had red marks on their bodies.

Styrene gas leaked; It is used in making fiber, rubber, pipe

The gas that leaked is called PVC. It is neuro toxin. Its chemical formula is C6H5CH = CH2. This most popular organic solvent is a colorless liquid like benzene-borne water. This leads to gas. It is a stifling gas. If it enters the body through the breath, then it starts showing effect within 10 minutes. This gas is used in polystyrene plastics, fiber glass, rubber and pipe making plants.

The plant was closed due to lockdown, opened only on Wednesday

LG Polymers is a multinational company. It was formed in 1961. Then it was named Hindustan Polymers. In 1978, Vijay Mallya's UB Group merged into McDowall & Company. LG Polymers has a plant since 1997 in Gopalanattanam area of ​​Venkatapuram village. The plant was closed for a long time due to the lockdown. It was opened for resumption on Wednesday itself.

Gas leaked during 5 thousand ton storage tank check

The plant has a gas chamber and a neutralizer chamber immediately adjacent to it. When gas leaked from a tank with a capacity of 5000 tons, an attempt was made to control it through the neutralizer chamber, but by then the situation had become uncontrollable. Andhra Industries Minister Gautam Reddy said that the accident occurred while the workers were checking the gas storage tank.

Gas spread in a radius of 4 kilometers

After the leak, the gas had spread over a radius of 4 km. This area includes 5 small villages surrounding it. Gas entered the homes of the people there. People started to sleep after restlessness, difficulty in breathing, vomiting. Many people fainted. Similar pictures continued to emerge from Venkatapuram village till Thursday morning. Many people were seen falling unconscious while standing.

The Prime Minister said - Everyone wants to be safe, this is what I want

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he has spoken to the Ministry of Home Affairs and NDMA. He wished everyone to be safe. The Prime Minister also called an emergency meeting of the NDMA at his residence.

Administration in Action, two thousand people evacuated; Navy team also arrived

After the accident, NDRF, NDMA and state teams started rescue operations.

The Navy also dispatched 50 breathing sets, portable air compressors and 2 ambulances.

NDRF DG SN Pradhan said that many people have received complaints like sore throat, skin problems, infections. So far around 1500 people have been evacuated. More than 500 people have been admitted to the hospital.

Those who are seriously ill have been admitted to the King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam.

Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy will visit Venkatapuram village to take stock of the situation.

Governor Vishwabhushan Harichandan has asked the Red Cross of Visakhapatnam to join the relief operation.