The Visakhapatnam gas tragedy is trending on Twitter, reminding years old Bhopal tragedy, which killed more than 3,000 people in 1984.
Twitter is flooded with messages with #VizagGasLeak #BhopalGasTragedy
On the 7th of May, around 3:00 A.M., a chemical gas leaked from LG Polymers, a pharmaceutical industry in Visakhapatnam. The incident claimed the lives of 8 people, including two senior citizens and an 8 year old girl. Close to 150 children are undergoing treatment and are said to be in a stable condition.
Launched in 1961, LG Polymers, is among India’s leading manufacturers of polystyrene and expandable polystyrene. The plant located at Visakhapatnam, belongs to the Mumbai based LG Polymers India, which is also a part of the South Korean group named LG Chemical. Originally set up in 1961, as Hindustan Polymers for manufacturing polystyrene and its co-polymers, the company was merged with McDowell & Co Ltd of UB Group in 1978. It ultimately became part of the South Korean group LG Chemical, in 1997.
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation officials said the reason could be due to the opening of the chemical unit after the lockdown. The gas stored in tanks began leaking and spread into a radius of 3 km. The gases which are said to be the reason of the accident are Styrene and Pentine.
As soon as the news broke out, the authorities asked the people within 3 km radius of the area to vacate their houses and arranged shelter and food for 7,500 people. The Visakhapatnam authorities managed to neutralise the gas and contain the impact of the leak.
Gautam Sawang, the Director General of Police (DGP) confirmed, 246 people are currently receiving treatment, out of which 20 are on ventilators and said to be in serious condition.
Mr. Sawang said, “The entire Venkatapuram village has been cleared and around 700 people have been evacuated from there. Around 800 people were admitted to hospitals but most of them have been discharged. Around 240 people are still in hospitals.” He further added, forensic teams are looking into the incident to ascertain the cause.
Speaking about the victims, a woman in King George Hospital said: “We could feel a strange smell. It was a very surreal feeling. Am I alive or dead. I could see people and animals lying on the ground. I don’t know how I reached the hospital.”
Regarding this, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (A.P.,) conducted an emergency meeting with his top officials at Amaravati.
Soon after the meeting, he left for Visakhapatnam to oversee the rescue operations at the ground level.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are in touch with the AP CM being updated about the progress of the work. Mr. Modi even conducted a meeting with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA ) asking to monitor the situation.
Meanwhile, Visakhapatnam officials said the gas leaked has been sealed and the gas dissipates fast and so the death toll may not increase substantially.
Rescue operations are still underway and a police investigation has been launched regarding the case.
Stay tuned for further updates.
Source: IANS
