The synthetic chemical styrene leaked from the LG Polymers plant in a city on
A fire that broke out before the gas leak has been extinguished, and police said the gas leak was later stopped and the air had cleared.
Chand said several people fainted on the road and were rushed to a hospital.
Nearly 100 people are hospitalized in non-life-threatening condition, Police Commissioner
The dead included an 8-year-old girl. Meena said one person died falling into a well while running away and another person died after he jumped from the second story of his house to escape. The others died in a hospital
South Korean company
“The gas leakage is now under control, but the leaked gas can cause nausea and dizziness, so we are investing every effort to ensure proper treatment is provided swiftly,”
It employs around 300 workers at the Vishakhapatnam plant, but Song said the victims mostly appeared to be local residents.
Nearly 1,000 people in an area of 3 kilometres (1.8 miles) complained of breathing difficulties and burning sensation in their eyes, Chand said.
Authorities deployed 25 ambulances to shift the sick to hospitals and others away from the accident site.
Meena said nearly 3,000 people were evacuated from a village near the plant.
Images from television showed people lying in the streets after they collapsed while trying to flee.
An eyewitness said there was a total panic as a mist-like gas enveloped the area. “People felt breathless in their homes and tried to run away. Darkness added to the confusion,” he told a television channel. His name wan’t given by the channel.
Srijana Gummala, the local municipal commissioner, said water was sprayed in the area to minimize the impact of the gas. “Through public address system, the people are being asked to use wet masks,” he said.
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