Visakhapatnam gas leak: More than 1,000 affected, 11 dead
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Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has now announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 crore each to the kin of those killed in the styrene gas leak.
A gas leak was reported in the early hours of Thursday in Vizag. Almost 24 hours later, the tragedy has taken 11 lives till now, and almost 300 people have been hospitalised.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has now announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 crore each to the kin of those killed in the styrene gas leak.
The initial reports have found out that a technical glitch in the refrigeration unit attached to the two styrene tanks at a chemical plant caused this vapour leak. The leak has affected more than 1,000 people in the five surrounding villages within a three kilometre radius.
“The gas leak situation is now under control and we are exploring all ways to provide speedy treatment for those who suffer from inhaling the leaked gas,” LG Polymers said in a statement.
The South Korea-based company has assured that the situation is under control and a detailed investigation is being conducted on the extent of physical and monetary damage.However, the number of casualties are expected to increase as some victims are fighting for their lives in the hospitals.
“There is gas leakage identified in LG Polymers in Gopalapatnam. Requesting citizens around these locations not to come out of their houses for the sake of safety precautions," the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation tweeted on Thursday.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, chaired a meeting at 11am on Thursday to get a detailed report on the tragedy.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) took control of the situation in the early hours, and has reported that the gas leak has been contained.