India: Gas leak from factory in Visakhapatnam kills 13, leaves hundreds sick

At least 13 people have been killed and hundreds injured after a factory in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh emitted unhealthy gas.

The gas leak occurred at the LG Polymer plant in Visakhapatnam.  Authorities say the gas leak began at 3 a.m. Thursday and was probably the result of negligence. Doctors say the gas leak "brought hundreds of people to hospital, most of them suffering from eye irritation and difficulty breathing." At least 800 people were hospitalized after the evacuation. About 80 of them have been placed on ventilators. Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner RK Meena told the BBC that three of the dead died near the factory and five died while undergoing treatment at King George Hospital. The gas leak came as the factory was reopening after a relaxation in the country's March 24 lockdown on the corona virus.  Provincial Minister for Industries Gautam Reddy told BBC Telugu that it appeared that the procedure and rules were not followed properly when the factory was reopened.  Initially, it was feared that the gas could spread over an area of ​​three kilometers, and police evacuated five villages near the plant.  A senior district official said initial efforts to contain the gas leak were unsuccessful, but local news agencies said the situation was now under control.

As soon as the gas leak started, the citizens came out of their houses in panic and fear and scenes of people falling unconscious on the streets were shared on social media.  It is possible that some factory workers were present at the time of the gas leak, but officials say they have no information.  Rajendra Reddy, a senior official with the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, told the BBC that the leaking gas was styrene, which is usually kept in a cold environment.  "We are trying to assess the far-reaching effects of the leak on those who smell the gas," he said.  Meanwhile, authorities have appealed to the public to cover their mouths with a wet cloth to protect themselves from the effects of the gas.  Styrene is a type of hydrocarbon gas used in the manufacture of plastics, paints and tires. Smelling or swallowing this gas affects the central nervous system and makes it difficult to breathe. It causes headaches and weakness and also affects the lungs.  The plant that emitted the gas is currently owned by South Korean LG. Built in 1961, the chemical plant belonged to a company called Hindustan Polymers, which was bought by LG in 1997.  Police have registered a case against the factory management and are investigating the cause of the gas leak.  Remember that there is a tragic history of gas leaks in factories in India.  In 1984, a gas leak at a chemical plant in Bhopal killed thousands. The incident is considered one of the worst industrial accidents in the world.  Even 35 years after the incident, victims say the area still produces physically challenged children due to the effects of the leak.