In a gas leak most likely polyvinyl chloride gas or Styrene leaked from G Polymers chemical plant in RR Venkatapuram village, Visakhapatnam, in Andhra Pradesh has caused over 5,000 people affected with at least 5 dead.
The Greater Vishakhapatnam Municipal Corporation has tweeted a map of the areas affected near the plant and asked citizens to keep mouth and nose covered with water soaked masks.
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
The maximum impact was within 1.5 KM radius however the effects may be felt as far as 2.5 KM from the factory location.
NDRF has already reached the site and that the gas has been neutarlised
#UPDATE Gas has been neutralised. NDRF team has reached the spot. Maximum impact was in about 1-1.5 km but smell was in 2-2.5 km. 100-120 ppl have been shifted to hospital. Total 3 persons have died in the incident. FIR registered: RK Meena, CP Visakhapatnam City. #AndhraPradesh pic.twitter.com/1foFpdtEKh
— ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2020
The state government too has swung into full action with people being evacuated in door to door searches.
The company was established in 1961 as “Hindustan Polymers” for manufacturing Polystyrene and its Co-polymers at Visakhapatnam, India. Merged with Mc Dowell & Co. Ltd. of UB Group in 1978. Taken over by LG Chem (South Korea), Hindustan Polymers was renamed as LG Polymers India Private Limited (LGPI) in July, 1997.
The incident has bought back memories of Bhopal gas disaster, the worst industrial accident ever, when Methyl isocyanate leak from Union Carbide India plant in Bhopal claimed over 3,787 lives (with over 16,000 calimed casualties) in 1984.
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