Eight dead, hundreds fall sick after as toxic gas leaks in a chemical plant in Vishakhapatnam
Tweeted by @AIREight people died and around two hundred people fell sick in a major leak of Styrene vapour from a private Polymers Limited plant at R R Venkatapuram village near Gopalapatnam in Visakhapatnam.
The incident occurred in the wee hours of today affecting at least five villages in the vicinity as the impact of the leak spread over a five-km radius.
Most of the villagers, including children, suffered irritation in eyes, breathlessness, nausea and rashes due to leakage of Gas.
Visakhapatnam district in charge minister K Kanna Babu, quoting the King George Hospital doctors, said those undergoing treatment were out of danger.
Around 60 persons were admitted to the King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam.
Many others were taken to private hospitals in the city for treatment. Visakhapatnam Joint Collector K. Venugopal Reddy said people from R R Venkatapuram village have been fully evacuated and shifted to other places.
Several police personnel, who came for the rescue operation, also suffered symptoms like breathlessness, irritation in eyes and fell unconscious.
The incident happened when some workers of the plant were making preparations for the re-opening of the unit following easing of the ongoing lockdown restrictions.
When the leakage came out, the workers sprayed water as the first step but in vain effecting most of the people while in fast asleep.
District collector Vinay Chand said that the immediate priority is to arrest the leak and ensure proper medicare to the affected people.
Teams of NDRF, police are working on bring the normalcy in those effected areas.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy is visiting the hospital and the affected areas in short while to monitor the situation personally.
Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhushan Harichandan expressed shock on the accident.
President Ram Nath Kovind has expressed sadness at the news of gas leak in a plant near Visakhapatnam which has claimed several lives.
He extended his condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the recovery of the injured and the safety of all.
He expressed confidence that the administration is doing everything possible to bring the situation under control at the earliest.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has expressed deep distress by the loss of lives due to the gas leak in Visakhapatnam.
He expressed condolences to the bereaved families and wishes for speedy recovery of those taken ill.
In a series of tweets, Mr Naidu said he spoke to Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy. They assured him that needed assistance is being given to ensure safety of the people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today took stock of the situation in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam following gas leak from a chemical plant.
He spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and assured all help and support.
Mr Modi also spoke to officials of Home Ministry and NDMA and said the situation is being monitored closely.
The Prime Minister also convened a meeting of National Disaster Management Authority in wake of the situation.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah were also present in the meeting.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his condolences to the families of deceased in the Visakhapatnam Gas leak mishap.
Terming the incident as disturbing, Mr Shah said that Home Ministry is continuously and closely monitoring the situation.
He informed that he has spoken to NDMA officials and concerned authorities and has asked them to provide all required assistance to the State to tackle the situation.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, G Kishan Reddy expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased due to the gas leak at a Private firm in Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh today.
Mr. Reddy interacted with the Chief Secretary and DGP of the State and took stock of the situation.
He has instructed NDRF teams to provide necessary relief measures.
Mr. Reddy also spoke to the Union Home Secretary and has asked him to provide all the required assistance to the state.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has expressed deep shock over the Visakhapatnam gas leakage accident.
He said it was an unfortunate incident and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.
He wished speedy and early recover of those fell ill due to the gas leakage.
Meanwhile, Director General, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) , Satya Narayan Pradhan has informed that the source of Gas leak in the Private Plant at Gopalpatnam in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh has been plugged.
He said that NDRF has been able to rescue people out of the affected area.
Mr. Pradhan informed that the regional response team along with state team jointly carried out the rescue operation.