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Gasaustritt von Visakhapatnam 2020

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Vorlage:Pp-protected Vorlage:Short description Vorlage:Copy edit Vorlage:Use dmy dates Vorlage:Use Indian English Vorlage:Infobox event 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 early morning of 7 May 2020. The resultant vapour cloud spread over a radius of about Vorlage:Convert, affecting the nearby areas and villages. As of 5 p.m. (UTC) 8 May, the death toll was 13, and more than 1,000 people were sick after being exposed to the gas.

Preliminary investigations concluded that the accident was likely the result of improper maintenance of units storing the styrene monomer, improper storage and operation errors.[1] The Andhra Pradesh government announced an ex gratia of Vorlage:INRConvert each for kin of the deceased as well as funds for the injured, allocating a budget of Vorlage:INRConvert for the compensation all those affected.[2]

Background

The chemical plant at Venkatapuram village was established in 1961 as Hindustan Polymers.[3] It manufactures polystyrene, its co-polymer products,[3] and engineering plastic compounds.[4] In 1978, it was merged with McDowell & Co. In 1997 it was acquired by South Korea-based LG Chem, which renamed the company to LG Polymers India.[3]

Leakage and effects

Facilities and leakage

On 7 May 2020, the plant was re-opened following the nationwide lockdown implemented as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] The plant had Vorlage:Convert of styrene stored in tanks, which were left unattended.[6][7] Styrene monomer must be stored between Vorlage:Convert above which it will rapidly vaporize.[8] It is believed that a computer glitch in the factory's cooling system allowed temperatures in the storage tanks to exceed safe levels causing styrene to vaporize.[9] Between 2:30 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., when maintenance activity was in progress, the gas leaked from the plant and spread to the nearby villages.[10][11][6][4]

Acute effects

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

As of 7 May, the fumes had spread over a radius of Vorlage:Convert.[12][6][13] Five villages—R. R. Venkatapuram, Padmapuram, BC Colony, Gopalapatnam and Kamparapalem—were the most affected areas.[14] Hundreds of people were rushed to hospitals with breathing difficulties and burning sensation in the eyes.[5] 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.[15] By the next day, the death toll had risen to thirteen.[16] More than 1,000 people were reportedly exposed to the gas.[12]

Also on 7 May, late at night, police ordered the evacuation of people in a Vorlage:Convert radius around the leak. However, police subsequently stated that this evacuation was precautionary and that there hadn't been a second leak.[17][18]

Relief and rescue

Nearly 200-250 families were evacuated from villages in a Vorlage:Convert radius around the plant. About 300 people were hospitalized, according to a media report.[11][19] The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy announced an ex gratia of Vorlage:INRConvert for the kin of those deceased in the accident.[2] He further announced Vorlage:INRConvert for those who received primary treatment, Vorlage:INRConvert for those who received longer treatment, and Vorlage:INRConvert for those on ventilator support.[19]

To neutralize the gas, around Vorlage:Convert of the antioxidant 4-tert-butylcatechol (PTBC) will be airlifted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and sent to the crippled factory. The Central Government flew in a specialized CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from Pune to the site as well.[20][19]

Investigation

According to the preliminary 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 the COVID-19 lockdown.[21] The malfunctioning of the tank's refrigerating unit led to an increase in temperature, causing the liquid chemical, suspected to be styrene, to evaporate.[22] However, experts have claimed that other chemicals may have also leaked, as styrene is unlikely to spread over Vorlage:Convert due to its chemical properties.[23][4][24][10][25]

As part of the process of the police investigation following the leak, a first information report (FIR) was filed against LG Polymers by the local police. The report allowed for possible charges 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).[14]

National Green Tribunal

A petition was filed in the National Green Tribunal (NGT), demanding an investigation into the incident by a high-level committee.[26] A bench headed by the then NGT chair, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel was formed, and the case was scheduled to be heard on 8 May 2020.[27]

On 8 May, the bench ordered LG Polymers India to deposit an amount of Vorlage:INRConvert as an initial amount with the District magistrate of Vishakapattanam to mitigate the damages caused due to the incident.[28] It issued notices to the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in which it sought the responses of the individual boards and the ministry. It also constituted a five-member fact-finding committee to probe the incident and to deliver a report to the bench. The committee would be supervised by former Andhra Pradesh High Court judge, B. Seshasayana Reddy.[29]

Human Rights Commission

The same day as the incident, the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) gave notice to the Andhra Pradesh Government and the central government that it considered the incident a gross violation of India's constitutional right to life. In their notice, the NHRC was seeking a detailed report from the Andhra Pradesh Government on rescue operations, medical treatment and rehabilitation. It also asked the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs to investigate any possible breaches of workplace health and safety law. Both reports are expected to be delivered within four weeks.[30]

See also

Portal: India – Übersicht zu Wikipedia-Inhalten zum Thema India

References

Vorlage:Reflist

Bibliography

Vorlage:Disasters in India in 2020 Vorlage:Visakhapatnam topics Vorlage:Toxicology Vorlage:LG Corporation

  1. ↑ Utpal Bhashkar: LG Polymers admits leaking vapor from gas storage tank caused Vizag tragedy In: The Livemint, 9 May 2020. Abgerufen im 10 May 2020 
  2. ↑ 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. In: News18. 7. Mai 2020, abgerufen am 7. Mai 2020.
  3. ↑ a b c Company History. LG Polymers India;
  4. ↑ a b c Thick air, pungent smell: How gas leakage tragedy unfolded at Visakhapatnam's LG Polymers plant. In: The Indian Express. 7. Mai 2020, abgerufen am 7. Mai 2020 (amerikanisches Englisch).
  5. ↑ a b Hundreds injured and eight dead in Indian gas leak In: BBC News, 7. Mai 2020 (britisches Englisch). 
  6. ↑ 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. In: News18. 7. Mai 2020, abgerufen am 7. Mai 2020.
  7. ↑ Jeffrey Gettleman, Suhasini Raj, Kai Schultz, Sameer Yasir: Gas Leak in India at LG Factory Kills 11 and Sickens Hundreds In: The New York Times, 7. Mai 2020 (amerikanisches Englisch). 
  8. ↑ Safe handling and storage of styrene monomer. Chevron Phillips Chemical, abgerufen am 8. Mai 2020.
  9. ↑ Gas Leak in Vizag: Glitch in refrigeration unit led to Vizag gas leak | Visakhapatnam News - Times of India. In: The Times of India. 7. Mai 2020, abgerufen am 7. Mai 2020 (englisch).
  10. ↑ a b Visakhapatnam gas leak live updates: Jagan announces Rs. 1 crore relief In: The Hindu, 7. Mai 2020 (indisches Englisch). 
  11. ↑ a b Massive gas leak in Visakhapatnam, thousands affected, Centre monitoring situation: 10 points. In: India Today. Abgerufen am 7. Mai 2020 (englisch).
  12. ↑ a b Siva G: Vizag LG Polymers Gas leak: 11 dead, over 5,000 fall sick after gas leak from LG Polymers In: The Times of India. Abgerufen am 7. Mai 2020 (englisch). 
  13. ↑ Hannah Ellis-Petersen, Michael Safi, Amrit Dhillon, Aruna Chandrasekhar: Gas leak at chemical factory in India kills at least nine and hospitalises hundreds In: The Guardian, 7. Mai 2020 (britisches Englisch). 
  14. ↑ a b Sumit Bhattacharjee: Visakhapatnam gas leak claims 11 lives; over 350 in hospitals In: The Hindu, 7 May 2020 
  15. ↑ Vedika Sud, Akanksha Sharma, Jessie Yeung, Esha Mitra, Emma Reynolds: Toxic gas leak at Indian chemical plant kills at least 11 and hospitalizes hundreds. In: CNN. Abgerufen am 7. Mai 2020.
  16. ↑ Gas Leak Kills 13, Injures Hundreds in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. In: The Weather Channel. Abgerufen am 8. Mai 2020 (amerikanisches Englisch).
  17. ↑ Vizag Gas Leak News Update: No! There was no second Gas Leak in Vizag. In: SA News Channel. 8. Mai 2020;.
  18. ↑ 'Evacuation precautionary': Vizag police dismiss report of second gas leak. In: Hindustan Times. 8. Mai 2020;.
  19. ↑ a b c 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. In: Firstpost. Abgerufen am 7. Mai 2020.
  20. ↑ Rutam Vora: Gujarat to airlift PTBC chemical for Vizag gas leak crisis. In: Business Line. The Hindu, abgerufen am 7. Mai 2020 (englisch).
  21. ↑ Visakhapatnam Gas Leak Updates: Day after tragedy, gas fumes begin leaking again. In: India Today. Abgerufen am 7. Mai 2020 (englisch).
  22. ↑ Analiza Pathak: Technical glitch in refrigeration unit caused Visakhapatnam gas leak: Official In: India TV News, 7 May 2020. Abgerufen im 8 May 2020 (englisch). 
  23. ↑ Vizag gas leak: What is styrene and how does it affect the body? In: The News Minute. 7. Mai 2020, abgerufen am 7. Mai 2020.
  24. ↑ Vizag gas leak live news updates: Toll rises to 11; NHRC sends notice to Andhra Pradesh govt, Centre. In: The Times of India. Abgerufen am 7. Mai 2020 (englisch).
  25. ↑ Mohana Basu: How styrene, chemical being blamed for Vizag gas leak deaths, affect human body In: ThePrint, 7 May 2020 
  26. ↑ Plea in NGT seeks judicial probe into Visakhapatnam gas leak incident In: Asian News International, 7 May 2020 
  27. ↑ NGT to take up Visakhapatnam gas leak case on Friday In: The Statesman (India), 7 May 2020 
  28. ↑ Vizag Gas Leak: NGT Issues Notice To Centre, Directs LG Polymers To Deposit Rs 50 Cr In: Press Trust of India, The Outlook. Abgerufen im 8 May 2020 
  29. ↑ Shinjini Ghosh: Visakhapatnam gas leak: NGT directs LG Polymers India to deposit ₹50 crore In: The Hindu, 8 May 2020 
  30. ↑ 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, abgerufen am 7. Mai 2020.
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