'Shut Polymer Unit,' TDP Asks Centre After Vizag Gas Mishap; Andhra CM Orders Probe

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y S Jaganmohan Reddy ordered a probe into the matter after a high-level meeting on Thursday where he reviewed the situation. Former CM Naidu also asked the Centre to engage veterinary experts to treat animals affected by the toxic gas.

Visakhapatnam: Vapour billows out from LG Polymers industry after a major chemical gas leak, in RR Venkatapuram village, Visakhapatnam, Thursday, May 07, 2020. (PTI Photo)(PTI07-05-2020_000034B)

Amaravati: After the styrene gas leak from a factory of a multinational firm in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam claimed around eight lives, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday demanded the factory to be closed and asked for a probe into the incident. Meanwhile, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh Y S Jaganmohan Reddy ordered a probe into the matter after a high-level meeting on Thursday where he reviewed the situation. State DGP D Gautam Sawang told PTI that the CM has ordered a probe into the matter as to how the gas leaked and why the neutraliser at the plant did not prove effective in containing the leak will. “Styrene, though, is not a poisonous gas and can be fatal only if inhaled in excess quantity,” the DGP added. The factory had restarted operations on Thursday after the nation wide lockdown due to Covid-19 was eased by the Centre. Chandrababu Naidu has requested the Centre to assist support to the state by sending medical experts to the district as it may lack the experts to handle the patients impacted by styrene gas. The former CM also said it is essential to immediately close down the LG Polymers Unit and initiate a thorough inquiry into the gas leakage. The plea has been made in a letter to the Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal, which also asked the Centre to engage veterinary experts to treat animals affected by the toxic gas, according to PTI report. "Further, COVID-19 infects the lungs and reduces the immunity of the person. Hence, it is essential that the medical aid should be two-pronged keeping in mind Styrene Gas and Covid-19," Naidu said in the letter. The former chief minister suggested that the entire unit should be shifted to a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) that has no population in the vicinity. Expressing condolences for the bereaved family who lost their kin Naidu said as of now few people have died, while around 2,000 people have fallen sick due to the leakage. He stressed that the Centre should offer necessary equipment for analysing the radius affected by styrene gas. "It is important to focus on mitigating further loss of lives and in the long run to minimise the adverse health effects on the people of Visakhapatnam," he said.