Andhra Pradesh: Gas Leak In Company Near Visakhapatnam, 50 Hospitalised

Visakhapatnam Gas Leak: The gas leak reportedly took place at the premises of Brandix in Achutapuram in Andhra Pradesh.

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Atleast 50 people were hospitalised following suspected gas leakage at a company in Achutapuram in Andhra Pradesh's Anakapalli district, ANI reported. The gas leak was reported at a seeds garment manufacturing company in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Achutapuram area. This was the second such incident in two months.

"The gas leak reportedly took place at the premises of Brandix. 50 people have been shifted to hospitals, and evacuation is underway at the premises," said SP Anakapalle.

About 50 female employees fell ill and started vomiting and complained of nausea. The staff at the company then took the unconscious women employees to a nearby private hospital in the company ambulance. Some of the workers were administered first aid at the medical centre in the SEZ.

Some of the workers who fell sick were said to be pregnant, PTI reported. The real cause of the sickness was, however, not immediately established.

A similar incident occurred in the district on June 3. About 200 women workers of an apparel firm fell sick after a gas leakage at an adjacent drugs company in Andhra Pradesh's Anakapalle district. The gas leak occurred at Porus Laboratories, affecting staff of an adjacent firm in the Atchutapuram area.

The affected women had complained of vomiting, headache and burning sensation in eyes. They were then shifted to a hospital. 

The Porus lab was shut down for a few days after the incident but soon resumed activities.

Chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had ordered a detailed investigation into the accident and also asked authorities to take necessary measures to avoid similar incidents.

In 2020, a gas leak from the LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam, which was operating without environmental clearance for over two decades, killed 12 people and left hundreds ill on May 7.