A man runs carrying a child affected by a chemical gas leak in Vishakhapatnam. Chemical gas leaked from an industrial plant in southern India early Thursday, leaving people struggling to breathe and collapsing in the streets as they tried to flee
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation on Thursday asked people staying near the chemical plant where a gas leak took place in the wee hours to stay indoors and use a wet cloth to cover their nose and mouth. At least seven people, including an 8-year-old child, have been killed and over 100 hospitalised due to the gas leak which took place at LG Polymers chemical plant in Gopalapatnam.
"There is (a) gas leakage identified at LG Polymers in Gopalpatnam. Requesting citizens around these locations not to come out of houses for the sake of safety precautions," the GVMC said in a tweet.
"Please use a wet cloth as a mask to cover your nose and mouth," it added.
The GVMC said its officials are trying to reduce the impact of the gas leak by spraying water and public address systems are being used to ask people to use masks.
Ambulances, fire engines and policemen have reached the spot.
Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has asked district officials to take every possible step to save lives and bring the situation under control.
Meanwhile, AP Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy has said that a helpdesk is being set up for response to the Vizag gas leak. "A dedicated team will provide all the required assistance and also our Department team is on-site, manning rescue operations. Request all, not to panic, and help us tide over this." Helpline numbers in the following tweet:
South Korean company LG Polymers makes polystyrene and expandable polystyrene, a versatile plastic used to make a wide variety of consumer products like toys and appliances. It has been in operation since 1961.
(With PTI inputs)
