LG gas leak: Death toll rises to 11

In Andhra Pradesh, the death toll in Visakhapatnam gas leak  has risen to 11. The styrene had gas leaked during wee hours yesterday from a Polymers Plant at RR Venkatapuram village near Visakhapatnam and quickly spread to villages in a five-kilometre radius. Hundreds of villagers, most of them children, suffered from irritation in their eyes, breathlessness, nausea and rashes.

246 people with health complications are undergoing treatment at  King George Hospital. About 800 people in RR Venkatapuram village in Gopalapatnam, were evacuated and most needed only first aid.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation at a high level meeting. Mr Modi discussed measures being taken for the safety of the affected people. Prime Minister also spoke to the officials of Union Home Ministry and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The meeting was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh among



others.  

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba also reviewed the situation  with the Secretaries of the Ministries of Home Affairs, Environment, Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Information and Broadcasting, Members of the National Disaster Management Authority and Director General, National Disaster Response Force  and others.

The NDRF team with CBRN personnel at Vishakhapatnam was deployed immediately to support the state government and local administration. The NDRF team carried out immediate evacuation of people living in the immediate vicinity of the leakage site.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy has ordered a probe into the matter. State Industries Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy said the LG Polymers unit was supposed to reopen post-lockdown on Thursday. He said the state government is airlifting 500 kg of inhibitors from Gujarat to neutralise the chemicals.