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Visakhapatnam gas leak

Coordinates: 17°45′19″N 83°12′32″E / 17.75528°N 83.20889°E / 17.75528; 83.20889
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Visakhapatnam gas leak
Date7 May 2020 (2020-05-07)
Time3:00 am IST
(21:30 UTC+05:30)
LocationR. R. Venkatapuram, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates17°45′19″N 83°12′32″E / 17.75528°N 83.20889°E / 17.75528; 83.20889
CauseGas leak from LG Polymers plant
Deaths11[1]
Non-fatal injuries1,000+[1]
Map

The Visakhapatnam gas leak, also referred to as the Vizag gas leak, was an industrial accident that occurred at the LG Polymers chemical plant in R. R. Venkatapuram village near Gopalapatnam on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India on the morning of 7 May 2020. The leaked gas spread over a radius of about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi), affecting the nearby areas and villages. Up until the evening of 7 May, the official death toll was 11, and more than 1000 people were affected.

According to preliminary reports, styrene gas, chemically known as ethenylbenzene, is suspected as the cause.[2][3]

Background

The chemical plant at Venkatapuram village was established in 1961 as Hindustan Polymers. It manufactures polystyrene and its co-polymer products as well as engineers plastic compounds. In 1978, it was merged with McDowell & Co. and later, was taken over by South Korea-based LG Chem, which renamed it as LG Polymers India in 1997.[4][5]

Leakage and effects

Facilities and leakage

On 7 May 2020, the plant was re-opened following the lockdown implemented to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] The plant had 2,000 metric tons (2,000 long tons; 2,200 short tons) of styrene stored in tanks.[7] The tanks had been left unattended during lockdown.[8] Styrene monomer remains in liquid form at room temperature (20–22°C) and easily evaporates as the temperature increases above room temperature.[9] It was believed that a technical glitch in refrigeration unit of the tanks caused a mishap. This caused the temperature and vapour pressure to rise,[10] and between 2:30 am and 3:00 am, when maintenance activity was in progress, the gas leaked from the plant and spread to nearby villages and areas.[11][12][7][13]

Acute effects

File:Vizag Gas Leak Many feared killed after leak in chemical factory.webm
Unconscious people found in the streets after the accident

The fumes are believed to have spread over a radius of 3 kilometres.[14][7][15] Five villages — R. R. Venkatapuram, Padmapuram, BC Colony, Gopalapatnam and Kamparapalem — are the most affected areas.[16] Hundreds of people have rushed to hospitals with breathing difficulties and burning sensation in the eyes.[6] Many had been found lying on the ground unconscious due to the effects of the gas. According to the initial estimate, at least 11 people had died and 20-25 people were in critical condition.[14][17][18][19] More than 1000 people were reportedly exposed to the gas.[20]

Relief and rescue

Nearly 200-250 families were evacuated from villages in a five-kilometre radius of the plant. About 300 people were hospitalised, according to a media report.[12][20] The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy announced an ex-gratia of ₹1 crore (US$120,000) for kin of deceased.[17] He further announced ₹25,000 (US$300) to those who received primary treatment, ₹1 lakh (US$1,200 or €1,200) to those who received longer treatment, and ₹10 lakh (US$12,000 or €12,000) to those on ventilator support.[20]

To contain the spread of the gas and neutralise it, about 500 kg of para‐tertiary butyl catechol (PTBC) will be sent from Vapi in Gujarat to Daman by road from where it will be airlifted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and sent to site of accident. The Central Government sent a specialised CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) by air from Pune to the site.[21][20]

Investigation

According to initial investigation, a gas valve malfunction is believed to have caused the leak. The leak was from one of two chemical tanks that had been left unattended since March 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdown.[22] The malfunctioning of the tank's refrigerating unit lead increase in temperature, causing the liquid chemical to evaporate.[23] The leaked gas is suspected to be evaporated styrene. However, experts claimed that other chemicals might have also leaked, as styrene is unlikely to spread to 4 or 5 kilometers due to its chemical properties.[24][25][26][27][28]

Legal actions

An FIR was filed against the LG Chem by the local police under sections 278 (making the atmosphere noxious to health), 284 (negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance), 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life) and 304 (causing death by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).[16]

National Green Tribunal

A petition has been filed in the National Green Tribunal (NGT), demanding an investigation into the incident by a high-level committee.[29] A bench was formed comprising of NGT Chairperson, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, and was scheduled to take the case on 8 May 2020.[30]

Human Rights Commission

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notice to the state and the central governments over the accident. NHRC criticised the incident as gross violation of right to life. It had asked local government for a detailed report of the rescue operation and the medical treatment provided to the people who are fallen sick along with relief provided for the affected families.[31]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Visakhapatnam gas leak live updates". The Hindu. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  2. ^ Bureau, Andhra Pradesh (7 May 2020). "Visakhapatnam gas leak live updates: Jagan announces Rs. 1 crore relief". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Front Matter". Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry: IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013 (Blue Book). Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry. 2014. pp. P001–P004. doi:10.1039/9781849733069-FP001. ISBN 978-0-85404-182-4.
  4. ^ "Company History". LG Polymers India.
  5. ^ "Thick air, pungent smell: How gas leakage tragedy unfolded at Visakhapatnam's LG Polymers plant". The Indian Express. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Hundreds injured and eight dead in Indian gas leak". BBC News. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  7. ^ a b c "Vizag Gas Leak LIVE Updates: 8 Dead, 300 Hospitalised & Over 5,000 Sick After Leak at LG Polymers Chemical Plant; PM Modi Calls for NDMA Meet at 11am". News18. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  8. ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey; Raj, Suhasini; Schultz, Kai; Yasir, Sameer (7 May 2020). "Gas Leak in India at LG Factory Kills 11 and Sickens Hundreds". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Safe handling and storage of styrene monomer" (PDF). Chevron Phillips Chemical. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Gas Leak in Vizag: Glitch in refrigeration unit led to Vizag gas leak | Visakhapatnam News - Times of India". The Times of India. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  11. ^ Bureau, Andhra Pradesh (7 May 2020). "Visakhapatnam gas leak live updates: Jagan announces Rs. 1 crore relief". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Massive gas leak in Visakhapatnam, thousands affected, Centre monitoring situation: 10 points". India Today. Retrieved 7 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ "Thick air, pungent smell: How gas leakage tragedy unfolded at Visakhapatnam's LG Polymers plant". The Indian Express. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  14. ^ a b G, Siva. "Vizag LG Polymers Gas leak: 11 dead, over 5,000 fall sick after gas leak from LG Polymers". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  15. ^ Staff; agencies (7 May 2020). "Gas leak at chemical factory in India kills at least nine and hospitalises hundreds". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  16. ^ a b Bhattacharjee, Sumit (7 May 2020). "Visakhapatnam gas leak claims 11 lives; over 350 in hospitals". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  17. ^ a b "Vizag Gas Leak LIVE Updates: 11 Dead, Over 5,000 Sick After Leak at LG Polymers Plant; CM Announces Rs 1 Crore for Kin of Deceased". News18. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  18. ^ CNN, Vedika Sud, Akanksha Sharma, Jessie Yeung, Esha Mitra and Emma Reynolds. "Toxic gas leak at Indian chemical plant kills at least 11 and hospitalizes hundreds". CNN. Retrieved 7 May 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ "Vizag gas leak live news updates: Toll rises to 11; NHRC sends notice to Andhra Pradesh govt, Centre". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  20. ^ a b c d "Vizag gas leak Updates: Andhra govt to airlift 500 kgs of PTBC from Daman to neutralise chemical; special NDRF team to fly in from Pune". Firstpost. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  21. ^ Vora, Rutam. "Gujarat to airlift PTBC chemical for Vizag gas leak crisis". @businessline. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  22. ^ "Visakhapatnam Gas Leak Updates: Day after tragedy, gas fumes begin leaking again". India Today. Retrieved 7 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ Pathak, Analiza (7 May 2020). "Technical glitch in refrigeration unit caused Visakhapatnam gas leak: Official". India TV News. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  24. ^ "Vizag gas leak: What is styrene and how does it affect the body?". The News Minute. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Thick air, pungent smell: How gas leakage tragedy unfolded at Visakhapatnam's LG Polymers plant". The Indian Express. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  26. ^ "Vizag gas leak live news updates: Toll rises to 11; NHRC sends notice to Andhra Pradesh govt, Centre". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  27. ^ Bureau, Andhra Pradesh (7 May 2020). "Visakhapatnam gas leak live updates: Jagan announces Rs. 1 crore relief". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  28. ^ Basu, Mohana (7 May 2020). "How styrene, chemical being blamed for Vizag gas leak deaths, affect human body". ThePrint. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  29. ^ "Plea in NGT seeks judicial probe into Visakhapatnam gas leak incident". Asian News International. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  30. ^ "NGT to take up Visakhapatnam gas leak case on Friday". The Statesman (India). 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  31. ^ "NHRC notice to Andhra Pradesh Government and Centre over deaths and sufferings to several people due to styrene gas leakage in Vizag District (07.05.2020)". National Human Rights Commission of India. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
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