Major gas leak at chemical plant in India leaves hundreds unconscious and many dead

Gas leakage in the Visakhapatnam, a small city in the eastern state of Andhra Pradesh in India, has killed at least nine and hundreds were rendered unconscious and rushed to hospitals.

Smokes rise from an LG Polymers plant following a gas leak incident in Visakhapatnam on May 7, 2020. Source: Getty

Highlights

• Gas leak at LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam
• Hundreds fell unconscious and at least 9 deaths have been reported
• People in surrounding areas urged to wear wet masks for protection.

The local government, amid fears that the death toll could climb higher, said the gas leaked from LG Polymers chemical plant around 2 am on Thursday which left hundreds unconscious.

Srijana Gummalla, the Commissioner of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), said, "Primary report is PVC gas (or Styrene) leaked from LG Polymers, Vepagunta near Gopalapatnam in Visakhapatnam at around 2:30 am today (Thursday). Because of the leakage of the said compound gas, hundreds of people have inhaled it and either fell unconscious or having breathing issues."

People carry a woman affected by a chemical gas leak in Vishakhapatnam, India, Thursday, May 7, 2020. Source: AP

India’s peak national disaster body, the National Disaster Response Force was roped in for evacuation and rescue operation.

A crowd gathers outside the LG Polymers plant from where chemical gas leaked in Vishakhapatnam, India, Thursday, May 7, 2020. Source: AAP

The plant is located on the outskirts of the city which is home to around five million people.

India’s Minister for Home Affairs, Amit Shah said the incident was disturbing.

“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,” he said in a tweet.

People in the surrounding areas have been told to stay indoors and use a wet mask to protect themselves.

India witnessed one of the worst industrial disasters in history in December 1984 when gas leaked from a pesticide plant in Bhopal, located in central India.

More than 3,500 people, who lived around the plant operated by Union Carbide, died in days that followed and several others died due to various side-effects in the following years. 

(This is a developing story. More to come.)

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