CPI(M) demands judicial probe in Visakhapatnam gas leak incident

Stating that the gas leak in Visakhapatnam was "criminal negligence on the part of the company, the CPI(M) on Thursday demanded a judicial probe into the incident in which at least 10 people have lost their lives.

Hundreds fell ill and at least 10 people died after a toxic gas leak at a polymer plant in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, early on Thursday. The gas leak impacted villages within a 5-km radius of the plant, according to officials.

"This accident is a clear case of criminal negligence by the management of this company. It needs to be properly investigated if all the precautionary measures were taken when the closed plant was restarted after the lockdown restrictions were eased," the party said in a statement, adding that people were seen running from their houses in thick smoke and the deaths occurred primarily due to asphyxiation.

The CPI(M) has demanded that a judicial enquiry be immediately conducted in a time bound manner and the guilty punished.

"The LG Polymers ...