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Vizag Gas Leak

On May 7 2020 sometime around 3 am in the morning a toxic gas named styrene leaked from a chemical plant LG Polymers ltd. As India battles with the COVID-19 Pandemic, the people living in Simhachalam, Gopalapatnam, Venkatapuram in Visakhapatnam were forced to deal with another unprecedented attack in form of Styrene.

Vizag gas leak: All you need to know about LG Polymers factory ... 

Cause of accident:

According to preliminary Investigation, the gas leakage from the plant was reported in the wee hours on 7 may after the company tried to restart its production post 40 days of Lockdown. The cause of incident prima facie by leaking vapor from the Styrene monomer of storage tank near the GPPS (General Purpose Poly Styrene).

Hazards possessed by Styrene on Humans:

1.       Burning sensation in the eyes.

2.       Difficulty in Breathing.

3.       Irritation of mucus membrane of the nose.

4.       It is Carcinogenic in nature (Causes Cancer when exposed for longer periods).

5.       Dizziness

The response of Authorities:

As soon as the news about the incident broke out the Police swung into action and cleared the nearby people from that location and sent people to hospitals in their Vehicles. APS RTC buses were also used to mobilize the affected to the hospital. Local youth also assisted the Police in the process.

After a few hours of the incident the Chief Minister of Y.s. Jagan Mohan Reddy reached Vizag and enquired about the incident with officials and the LG polymers Administration. He announced 1 Cr compensation to the deceased and also respectable compensation to the people affected and set up a committee to take further course of action on the plant.

Irregularities in License of Plant:

It was reported from the preliminary investigation that the Plant did not possess valid environmental clarences. Interestingly, in 2017 the then Government has given clearance for the plant to expand its plant in the same premises which are located in the midst of RR. Venkatapuram, a village with a population of around 2000, although it did not meet certain standards.

 

As a Chemical engineering student, I know a thing or two about a polymer plant. It is not advisable to Continue the plant in that densely populated area and it would be better to shift the plant to SEZ in Atchutapurram rather than cancel the licenses of the plant as it is providing employment to the locals. Strict Protocols have to be followed to prevent this type of incident in the future. 


B.V.Karthik Kiran

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