India gas leak leaves leaves 11 dead and 1,000 seriously ill as bodies and choking victims lie in street

HORRIFIC pics show bodies and choking victims lying in the street after a gas leak killed at least 11 and left 1,000 seriously ill in India today.

The deadly fumes escaped from an LG chemical plant in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, this morning, leaving people gasping for breath and collapsing in the streets as they tried to flee.

Witnesses described panic as a mist-like gas enveloped the local area and terrified residents tried to run away in the early morning darkness.

At least 11 people – mostly people living nearby – have so far lost their lives and around 1,000 suffered breathing difficulties and a burning sensation in their eyes.

The synthetic chemical styrene leaked from the plant – which makes polystyrene – as workers prepared to restart the facility after a coronavirus lockdown was eased, state official Vinay Chand said.

A fire that broke out before the gas leak was extinguished, and police said the leak was later halted and the air had cleared.

About 100 people were hospitalised and in non-life-threatening condition, Police Commissioner R.K. Meena said.

GIRL, 8, DEAD

S.N. Pradhan, chief of the National Disaster Response Force, said 11 people had died – including an eight-year-old girl.

One person died after falling into a well while running away and another died after jumping from the second story of his house to escape, Meena said.

The others died in a hospital.

State Industries Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy said rescuers broke down local residents’ doors and dragged the unconscious inhabitants to safety.

South Korean company LG Chem Ltd – which says it is South Korea’s largest chemical company and is part of the LG Corp conglomerate – operates the plant.

The company said it is cooperating with Indian authorities to help residents and employees.

LG Chem said in a statement: “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.”

The company said it is looking into the cause of the leak of styrene monomer gas, which is used to produce plastic.

But it won’t know exactly what happened until Indian authorities complete their investigation, company official Song Chun-seob said.

The Vishakhapatnam plant is a leading manufacturer of polystyrene plastic in India.

It employs around 300 workers, but Song said the victims appeared mostly to be local residents.

Mekapati Goutham Sawang, the state director-general of police, said styrene gas is not a poisonous or a lethal gas.

He said: “Only if one inhales high doses of it, it is serious.

“Otherwise, it leads to irritation, losing coherence and breathlessness.”

Meena said about 3,000 people were evacuated from a village near the plant.