作者： bharat.cn
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Gas leaked from a chemical plant in Visakhapatnam in the early hours of Thursday and quickly spread to villages in a five-kilometre radius, killing at least 11 people and impacting about 1,000, many collapsing to the ground as they tried to escape the toxic vapours
Heart-wrenching scenes of anxious parents carrying their wards in arms, health workers scrambling to help the affected and fleeing residents were witnessed on Thursday He initially mistook it for a leak from cooking gas cylinder in his house, but only when G Vinay stepped out did he realise the pungent smell was of the killer vapour from a nearby chemical plant that snuffed out 11 lives and hit nearly 1,000 people in Andhra Pradesh.
Heart-wrenching scenes of anxious parents carrying their wards in arms, health workers scrambling to help the affected and fleeing residents were witnessed on Thursday as the enormity of the situation forced them to ignore social distancing and other precautions against coronavirus.
Many collapsed on roads and kerbs trying to flee from the affected areas in a five km radius, bringing back grim memories of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.
The leak of styrene, a chemical used to make synthetic rubber and resins, among others, occurred in LG Polymers Limited plant at R R Venkatapuram village near here in the wee hours while people were still fast asleep.
The worst-hit Venkatapuram reverberated with cries of people for help. Many people fell unconscious during their sleep, a villager said.
A couple of people in the village whom PTI contacted painted a grim picture, ruing their personal losses.
“We were fast asleep and at around 2.30 am I woke up as my skin was itching. I opened my eyes but felt a burning sensation. I sensed some danger and woke up my other family members. We all came out and I along with my other neighbours and friends started waking up others,” he said.
A first year medical student, two girls, aged six and nine, were among the 11 people killed due to the leakage of styrene vapour and related incidents.
Women and children were seen lying on roads struggling to breathe, reminiscent of the infamous Bhopal gas tragedy when a leak from the Union Carbide plant left around 3,500 dead and many maimed.
Vinay said his brother Kannaji fell unconscious after inhaling the gas and also sustained injuries.
“He is now undergoing treatment at the NRI hospital here. Doctors told us that his lungs were filled with gas. He is
being shifted to the ICU,” Vinay said.He said his brother must have sustained injuries in stampede when many of the residents were trying to come out on to the road at once. He, however, was not sure of it.
His uncle Ganga Raju, who also suffered vision problems due to the vapours, fell into a well and died, he said.
Vinay’s other family members were treated as outpatients and discharged.
In the hour of crisis, several people extended a helping hand, throwing caution to the wind amid the coronavirus scare.
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Vizag Chemical Gas Leak: 7 Killed, More Than 100 Hospitalised; PM Calls NDMA Meeting
At least seven people, including a child, were killed following a chemical gas leakage at LG Polymers industry in RR Venkatapuram village, Visakhapatnam, early Thursday morning. Nearly seventy people have been hospitalised following the incident. The leak was first reported at 2:30 in the night, an official told a TV channel.
More than a 1,000 people in five surrounding villages, in a three km radius, have reported sick.
DG Sawang, the Andhra Pradesh DGP, said there have been seven casualties in the incident so far, adding of one peroson fell into a well while trying to escape. The evacuation is still underway, he said. The plant was shut due to the nationwide lockdown announced in the last week of March.
After the leak, people complained of burning sensation in their eyes and experienced difficulty in breathing. They were immediately rushed to the hospital, multiple news agencies reported.
Reacting to the unfortunate incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he had spoken to officials of MHA and NDMA regarding the situation in Visakhapatnam, which is being monitored closely.
“I pray for everyone’s safety and well-being in Visakhapatnam.”
The Prime Minister has also called for a meeting with NDMA officials. “In the wake of the situation in Visakhapatnam, PM @narendramodi has called for a meeting of the NDMA at 11 AM,” tweeted the Prime Minister’s Office.
TV channels showed people lying unconscious on roads.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are on the spot.
Police, ambulances, and fire tenders have been rushed to the area to assist in rescue operations.
Reports said the gas leak has been contained.
Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy enquired about the incident and directed the Visakhapatnam district collector to ensure proper medical care for the affected people.