作者： bharat.cn

LG Chem CEO Shin Hak-cheol will likely visit India to handle the gas leak accident there to responsibly manage the mortality event that led to the deaths of 12 people and left hundreds of others hospitalized, the chemical arm of LG Group said Sunday.

“Since the outbreak of the accident, LG Chem has operated an emergency measure team with CEO Shin in charge,” an LG Chem official said.

“Shin is also considering visiting India despite entry restrictions because of the Indian government’s lockdown imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19. As head of the company, Shin is acting as a control tower to closely communicate with the Indian government and manage the aftermath of the accident.”

The gas leak happened at the plant of LG Polymers India, an affiliate of LG Chem, on the outskirts of the Indian city of Visakhapatnam, May 7. LG Chem said “its initial investigations suggest the cause of the accident is prima facie by the leaking vapor from the styrene monomer storage tank” near the plant.

LG Chem also expressed condolences over the gas leak and vowed to provide an effective care package for victims.

“LG Polymers India would like to express sincere condolences and apologies to all who have been affected by this accident. We would like to assure everyone that the company is committed to work closely with the concerned authorities in India to investigate the cause of this accident, prevent future recurrences and secure the foundation for care and treatment,” the company said in a statement.

The company is currently operating its emergency response team to “help victims and families to resolve any issues and provide every assistance to the bereaved families.”

“All families will be contacted shortly. This team has the responsibility to provide every support for the deceased, medical supplies and household goods, and emotional management for psychological stability to all victims,” the firm said.

LG Chem acquired the plant from Hindustan Polymers in 1996 and employs about 300 there. The plant has produced various polystyrene products such as engineering plastic, raw materials used for cars and electronic parts.

The National Green Tribunal of India, a special tribunal that can handle speedy disposal of cases related to environmental protection, already imposed an interim fine of 500 million Indian rupees ($6.6 million), adding that “the amount is being fixed having regard to the financial worth of the company and the extent of the damage caused.”

Residents living near the factory are reportedly protesting LG Chem for the firm’s poor handling of toxic chemicals and demanding the shutdown of the plant, according to local Indian news outlets.

In regard to this, LG Chem said it acknowledged the situation but there’s nothing to comment on the factory shutdown, adding it will do its utmost effort to sort out the aftermath of the incident.

It remains to be seen how the leading chemical firm would manage the deadly accident at a time the company is preparing to make a leap forward.

Soaked in sweat and with not an extra inch to reposition themselves, a group of around 40 to 45 migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, huddled together in a truck, were on their way to their native place when the Navi Mumbai Police intercepted their vehicle on Friday night.

A young mother of two, tugging her one-year-old tightly to her chest did not know how will they manage to travel 1,700 km to their native in Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh which by road on a vehicle could take anywhere between five-six days.

Many of these migrants had collected their life savings of around Rs 3,000 to 5,000 and handed it over to the truck driver who had promised them to take them to their villages. Some of them had even borrowed money so they could pay up the amount.

Nand Kumar had just arrived in Mumbai to make a living and started working in a textile unit a fortnight before the lockdown due to coronavirus was announced.

He was also in the group of migrant workers duped by the trucker waiting on the roadside while his wife with her year-old infant was still inside the truck’s container.

Speaking to India Today TV team, he said “I arrived in Mumbai just a fortnight before the lockdown was announced and had been working in the textile unit. Due to the lockdown, we don’t have any work or money so, we decided to leave in this truck going to Siddharthnagar.”

He added, “I paid Rs 6,000 to the truck driver for the journey. I was forced to leave as I had no money left with me and had to borrow this money so that I could leave for my native place. We had registered [for Shramik special trains] but it was taking very long and I had no clue when we will be allowed to travel so we decided to go in this truck. I paid him Rs 6,000 and Rs 1,000 was to be paid after reaching Siddharthnagar.”

Unable to cope with no wages, hunger, and uncertainty amid the coronavirus crisis which has affected over 56,000 people in India, there are hundreds and thousands of migrants like Nand Kumar who can be seen walking towards the Mumbai-Agra highway, trying to make it to their respective villages, some as far as 1,800 km.

The group of migrants on the truck were fleeing from Mumbai, the same city to which they had come a few months ago to eke out a living.

With no other option in sight, no assurance even after registering for Shramik special trains operated by the Indian Railways to ferry the migrants to their native places, these workers opted for the option in front of them, a truck where they were put up in the container like a flock of sheep.

Santosh Kumar, who was going to Azamgarh in the truck and had paid Rs 7,000 for two persons, spoke to India Today TV and said, “The vehicle belongs to one Pramod Jadhav and is from Digha village in Navi Mumbai. I work as a driver and had heard from some other drivers about the truck going to UP so I tried contacting them. This vehicle was going to Siddharthnagar and I had to go to my native place is Azamgarh. I have paid Rs 7,000 to the driver”.

In a tragedy that highlights the plight of thousands of jobless labourers stuck in other states due by the coronavirus lockdown and walking long distances back to their native states, 16 migrant workers were killed after a goods train ran over a group of migrants who fell asleep on the rail tracks on Friday in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra.

The Aurangabad incident was reported at around 5:22 am on Friday morning. The migrant labourers were on their way to their native places in Madhya Pradesh and had fell asleep on the railway tracks after an overnight walk from Jalna, about 40 kilometres from the site of the incident.

A video clip from the incident site showed bodies of the migrants on the railway tracks and their personal belongings scattered around. The victims were aged between 20 and 35 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the death of 16 migrant.

The health ministry, in their routine daily briefings on coronavirus in the country, said that at least 216 districts in India have not reported any Covid-19 case till date. In the last 24 hours, Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agrawal said, 3,390 new Covid-19 positive cases have been reported.

Besides, 1,273 coronavirus patients have recovered. The recovery percentage is now 29.36 per cent, the health ministry said. Till now, 16,540 patients have been cured and 37,916 patients are under active medical supervision. In total, India’s coronavirus count has mounted to 56,342.

Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus positive cases in Maharashtra — the worst-affected state in the country — reached 19,063, with 1,089 more people reporting positive on Friday. Thirty-seven people have died in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll in the state to 731, said the Maharashtra Health Department.