Eleven people, including two children, have died while about 300 are hospitalised after a gas leakage from LG Polymers chemical plant in RR Venkatapuram village, Visakhapatnam, in Andhra Pradesh today. The Vizag factory was trying to open post lockdown when the incident occurred, DG NDRF told CNN-News18. Several people were taken to hospital after they complained of a burning sensation in their eyes and breathing difficulties.
Update from NDRF
The death toll rose to 11 in the gas leak mishap in Visakhapatnam, said SN Pradhan, Director General of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Thursday. Addressing a joint press conference with members of NDMA and Director of AIIMS on the incident, Pradhan said, “The incident occurred at 2:30 am at night. Initially, people were affected in terms of throat irritation, skin irritation and toxic gas smell. Local villagers tried to contact local administration. The initial response was from local admin and fire services.”
“Around 5:30 am, the local NDRF unit stationed in Vishakhapatnam was informed. They were on the spot in 30 minutes. They undertook two tasks — neutralising the gas inside the factory and evacuation of villagers near the factory site,” he added. Styrene gas leakage had occurred at LG Polymers industry in RR Venkatapuram village in Visakhapatnam early this morning.
Pradhan said that the NDRF unit will stay back in the area till the situation is absolutely under control. “Around 200-250 families — roughly over 500 people — have been evacuated from the site. Door to door search undertaken by NDRF. The unit has trained experts and equipped to deal with chemical disasters. The NDRF unit will stay back in the area till the situation is absolutely under control,” he said.
Pradhan informed that the NDRF team which is specialised in chemical, biological, radiological disaster is in the fifth battalion from Pune and it is being flown from Pune to reach the site.
“The specialised NDRF team which is specialised in the chemical, biological, and radiological disaster is being flown from Pune to reach the site. This is a chemical disaster and therefore a four-member team headed by commandant Anupam Shrivastava will be sent to assess the situation on the ground. As of now, the situation is under control,” he further said. (ANI)
Source: ANI
