Visakhapatnam, May 7: Unconscious children being carried by parents in their arms, people laying on roads, health workers scrambling to attend to those affected by the styrene vapour leak and residents fleeing were some of the scenes that played out near here on Thursday, bringing back grim memories of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.
The leak of styrene, a chemical used to make synthetic rubber and resins, among others, occurred in the wee hours of Thursday while people were still fast asleep.
Women and children were seen lying on roads struggling to breath, reminiscent of the infamous Bhopal gas tragedy when a leak from the Union Carbide plant left around 3,500 dead and many maimed.
The worst-hit Gopalapatnam village reverberated with cries of people for help.
Many people fell unconscious during their sleep, a villager said.
Affected people, suffering writ large on their faces, were rushed to hospitals in autorickshaws and on two wheelers.
Visakhapatnam Collector Vinay Chand said 20 ambulances were pressed into service as soon information about the gas leak was received.
Exposure to styrene, also known as ethenylbenzene, vinylbenzene can affect the central nervous system (CNS), causing headache, fatigue, weakness, and depression.
It is primarily used in the production of polystyrene plastics and resins.
The gas leak took place at LG Polymers chemical plant.
LG Polymers was established in 1961 as "Hindustan Polymers" for manufacturing Polystyrene and its co-polymers at Visakhapatnam. It merged with McDowell & Co. Ltd of UB Group in 1978, according to the company's website.
Taken over by LG Chem (South Korea), Hindustan Polymers was renamed LG Polymers India Private Limited (LGPI) in July, 1997.
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Our beautifull country Bharat is known for good people, but some criminals spoiling the name, better if crimes and rapes not prevented , bring Islamic law , sharia law, so that people will live peacefully. no rapes , even children walk freely any place
Can someone expect same sentence if his daughter / G daugher ( may god forbid) is victim
first prevent porn videos images circulating over social medias. Many family ladies also becoming victim for unwanted relationship also you can say their greedines making them to build illegal relationship and if this is the case what will be next generations life. We are focusing and highlighting only on medias but also need to concentrate our ladies activities. Prevent the rape by avoiding such activities.
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