Eleven people including a child were killed after toxic gas leaked from a chemical plant of a multinational firm in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam, officials said. The gas leak is "under control", the factory operator's South Korean parent company said.
"The gas leak situation is now under control and we are exploring all ways to provide speedy treatment for those who suffer from inhaling the leaked gas," said LG Chem, which owns the Visakhapatnam plant operator LG Polymers India.
"We are investigating the extent of damage and exact cause of the leak and deaths," it added in a statement.
Nearly 800 people have been admitted to hospital. Ambulances, fire engines and policemen have reached the chemical plant, officials said.
Residents near the chemical gas plant of LG Polymers India Pvt Ltd in the district's village RR Venkatapuram reported of burning sensation in their eyes and difficulty in breathing, officials said. They were immediately taken to hospital, they said.
Here are the Highlights on LG polymers gas leakage in Visakhapatnam:
Andhra Pradesh Industries Minister M Goutham Reddy on Thursday said the state government is airlifting 500 tons of inhibitors, as a foolproof safety measure, to neutralize the chemical substances in the Visakhapatnam gas leak incident and that the company would be asked to explain what went wrong.
The leak was contained within an hour, he said.
Maintaining that the administration was taking all precautionary steps,the minister said the factory was not being operated, but personnel were trying to get it to readiness.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Thursday expressed grief over the Visakhapatnam gas leak tragedy early on the day that killed at least 11 persons and affected over 1,000 people, leaving them gasping for breath.
"Shocked to know about the terrible Vizag gas leak tragedy. My condolences to the bereaved families, who lost their loved ones. May God give them strength to bear this loss. Prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured," Ashok Gehlot said.
Deputy Chief Minister Pilot called the incident "sad and unfortunate".
A specialised chemical called PTBC, made only in Vapi town of Gujarat, will be sent to Visakhapatnam on an urgent basis to help in neutralising the effects of gas leak at a polymer plant there, a Gujarat government official said on Thursday.
A major leak from a chemical plant of LG Polymers near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh in the wee hours of Thursday impacted villages within a five-km radius, leaving eight people dead and scores of citizens complaining of breathlessness, nausea and other problems.
Andhra Pradesh Police said on Thursday that the reports of gas leakage for a second time at LG Polymers are false.
"Reports of a second leak at LG Polymers premises are false. Maintenance team was repairing the system and some vapour was let out. There is no second leak," the police said in a tweet.
In another tweet, the police tweeted two pictures shared by the State's Industry Department.
The death toll in the gas leak tragedy has risen to 10, said SN Pradhan, Director General of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif on Thursday expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased in the gas leakage incident in Visakhapatnam.
The batsman also said that he spent two Ranji Trophy seasons in Vishakapatnam and the city is very close to him
"I've spent 2 Ranji Trophy seasons in "#Visakhapatnam, it's a city that's very close to me. The visuals that I see today are very disturbing! My thoughts & prayers are with everyone affected and my deepest condolences with the bereaved families. May this subside soon#VizagGasLeak," Kaif tweeted.
South Korea's LG Chem Ltd said a gas leak at its plant in Andhra Pradesh had been brought under control, after an incident on Thursday that police estimate killed nine people and resulted in hundreds getting affected. Read more
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu today demanded a probe into the gas leak incident in Visakhapatnam and asked the Centre to immediately shut down the chemical plant from where styrene vapour leaked. Read more
NHRC notice to Andhra Pradesh Government and Centre over deaths and sufferings of several people due to styrene gas leakage in Vizag District.
- NHRC India (@India_NHRC) May 7, 2020
Full Press Release on website https://t.co/uyiss1T6nJ#AndhraPradesh #VizagGasLeakage#BhopalGasTragedy #VizagGasTragedy#LGPolymer
A chemical leak in a plant of LG Polymers India in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam district led to hospitalisation of 200 people and nine deaths. 1,000 more people were affected by the gas leak from the plant left idle because of the coronavirus lockdown, according to senior police officer Swaroop Rani in Visakhapatnam. Read more
In the hours after a gas leak hit villages around a chemical gas plant in Visakhapatnam, rescue officials broke into houses where people had fallen unconscious and moved them to hospital, the top police officer of Andhra Pradesh told NDTV. Read more
Union Home Minister Amit Shah today described the gas leak at a chemical plant in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam as "disturbing" and said the central government is closely monitoring the situation. Read more
Shocked to know about the terrible #VizagGasLeak tragedy. My condolences to the bereaved families, who have lost their loved ones. May God give them strength to bear this loss. Prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured.#vishakhapatnam #AndhraPradesh
- Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) May 7, 2020
Deeply saddened by the loss of lives in Vishakhapatnam because of the the gas leak. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost their loved ones. I pray for everyone's well being.
- Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 7, 2020
PM @narendramodi has spoken to Andhra Pradesh CM Shri @ysjagan regarding the situation in Visakhapatnam. He assured all help and support.
- PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 7, 2020
I'm shocked to hear about the
- Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 7, 2020
#VizagGasLeak . I urge our Congress workers & leaders in the area to provide all necessary support & assistance to those affected. My condolences to the families of those who have perished. I pray that those hospitalised make a speedy recovery.
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.
The news of gas leak from a Polymer plant in Visakhapatnam is worrying. @NDRFHQ is working together with the state government in performing the first responder's duty.
- Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) May 7, 2020
My prayers for the safety of all.
Condolences to the family of those deceased.
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.
CORE & VULNERABLE AREAS MAP OF PVC GAS LEAKAGE. REQUESTING CITIZENS TO USE WET MASKS OR WET CLOTH TO COVER YOUR NOSE AND MOUTH. pic.twitter.com/7u9U5zDBLN
- Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) (@GVMC_OFFICIAL) May 7, 2020
3 dead, 25 hospitalised after a major gas leak at a chemical plant in Andhra's Vizag. Here's what we know so far. pic.twitter.com/F2blkVsqTP
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 7, 2020
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.
- Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) (@GVMC_OFFICIAL) May 7, 2020
- Five people including a child reportedly died after toxic gas leaked from a chemical plant of a multinational firm in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam.
- Nearly 200 people have been admitted to hospital.
- Ambulances, fire engines and policemen have reached the chemical plant, officials said.
- Residents near the chemical gas plant of LG Polymers India Pvt Ltd in the district's village RR Venkatapuram reported of burning sensation in their eyes and difficulty in breathing, officials said.
- They were immediately taken to hospital, they said.
