People have been admitted to hospitals after they complained of burning sensation in eyes and breathing difficulties due to the gas leak in Visakhapatnam
At least eight people have been killed and several hundred hospitalised after a gas leak at a chemicals plant in RR Venkatapuram village in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
According to an IANS report, initial casualties included a 8-year-old girl. One man is reported to have died when he jumped into a well while another person fell off the balcony of his house as the gas leak at the LG Polymers unit located at RR Venkatapuram near Gopalapatnam spread across the five sleeepy villages around 2.30 a.m.
"Gas has been neutralised. NDRF team has reached the spot. There was styrene gas leak. We got information on that and we alerted the villagers. We have evacuated the village. Now we are conducting a door-to-door search," RK Meena, CP Visakhapatnam city told ANI. He said, "Most of the adults vacated the village but some women and children were stuck there. They were rescued by our team."
"The maximum impact of the gas leak was in about 1 to 1.5 km radius but the smell of the gas was till 2-2.5 km. About 100-120 people have been shifted to hospital. Total three persons have died in the incident including a six-year-old child. An FIR has been registered," he added.
Rescuers evacuate people following a gas leak incident at an LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam on May 7, 2020.Pic: AFP
Panic-stricken people rushed out of their homes, only to collapse. Several cattle and livestock also succumbed to the poisonous gas pervading the air.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's Office said that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will leave for Visakhapatnam and visit King George Hospital where those affected by gas leak incident are being treated.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to Twitter to say that he spoke to officials of MHA and NDMA about the situation.
Spoke to officials of MHA and NDMA regarding the situation in Visakhapatnam, which is being monitored closely.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 7, 2020
I pray for everyone’s safety and well-being in Visakhapatnam.
Home Minister Amit Shah took to the micro-blogging site to say the incident is disturbing. He wrote, "The incident in Vizag is disturbing. Have spoken to the NDMA officials and concerned authorities. We are continuously and closely monitoring the situation. I pray for the well-being of the people of Visakhapatnam."
The incident in Vizag is disturbing.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 7, 2020
Have spoken to the NDMA officials and concerned authorities. We are continuously and closely monitoring the situation.
I pray for the well-being of the people of Visakhapatnam.
Chandrababu Naidu also expressed his condolences to the ones affected in the tragedy.
Been in touch with TDP MLA Ganababu who is personally overseeing the rescue ops since early morning. My heartfelt condolences go to all those who have lost their loved ones and those affected by this terrible tragedy #VizagGasLeak #Visakhapatnam pic.twitter.com/3knevzeemM
— N Chandrababu Naidu #StayHomeSaveLives (@ncbn) May 7, 2020
"Chief Minister is closely monitoring the situation and has instructed the district machinery to take immediate steps and provide all help," said Andhra Pradesh CMO.
The Chief Minister enquired about the gas leak incident and directed the district officials to take every possible step to save lives and bring the situation under control.
The gas leakage took place at LG Polymers industry in RR Venkatapuram village here on Thursday, said Tirupathi Rao, District Medical & Health Officer (DMHO).
(with inputs from agencies)
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