Vizag gas leak victims protest outside LG Polymers factory with dead bodies, grill Avanti Srinivas, DGP gives the slip

Anger simmered on the streets of R R Venkatapuram with protesting residents demading justice to the gas leak victims. Hundreds of residents gathered outside LP Polymers with bodies of those who died in the gas leak even as DGP Gautam Sawang was holding meeting with the top officials of the South Korean company.

The ambulances from KGH Hosptial carrying the bodies of those who died in the gas leak were stopped right in front of LG Polymers and laid the bodies on the road outside LG Polymers. The bodies were brought to the village for cremation on Saturday from the KGH mortuary after post-mortem. The protesters placed three bodies of the gas leak victims in front of the factory main gate even as state Gautam Sawang was inspecting the vapour leak spot and talking to the company’s officials. The DGP, in the midst of meeting with the South Korean officials, left LG Polymers. As he drove past, the sloganeering residents tried to stop the vehicle, but the DGP exited the main gate without as much acknowleding their protest.

Hundreds of local residents hit the streets to protest against the government’s inaction over relocation of LG Polymers after the toxic gas leak that left 12 dead and hundreds hospitalized. Angry locals demanded that the Andhra Pradesh government shift the LG Polymers factory from R R Venkatapuram to a safe area away from human settlements. The police tried to stop the agitating residents who marched the streets demanding that the factory be relocated. The police arrested some of the protesters when they broke the barricades and took them into custody. The angry protesters raised slogans against the government and demanded justice to the residents of R R Venkatapuram. “We want justice, we want justice” filled the air. Arguments ensued between the police and the residents who expressed their anguish and fears that if LG Polymers is not relocated from the present location there is a possibility of recurrence of similar gas leak endangering the lives of people.

Angry residents accused the government of being hand-in-glove with the officials of the South Korean company. They dubbed the government’s probe order a hogwash and the Rs 1 crore compensation announced by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy to the kin of the deceased as a mere lip-sympathy. They demanded that the Andhra Pradesh government immediately order the closure of the factory.

Tourism minister Avanti Srinivas and other local YSRCP leaders rushed to the spot. The residents pulled up the minister and other local YSRCP leaders when they tried to pacify them. “No medical camp was conducted. The gas and fire detecting systems installed in the company failed. Does the government think it can absolve itself by giving compensation. The government is supporting the promoters of the company. Have you arrested single official of the company,” an angry resident questioned Avanti Srinvias.

Further, the residents attributed the gas leak to LG Polymers’ negligence stating that they failed to adhere to safety protocols. The company’s management, in its haste to re-start the plant has ignored the protocol of doing maintenance of the plant before resuming operation. “The air and the water has been polluted. How do you expect us to live in such an environment? The government is trying to wash off its hands by merely announcing compensation. We will not stop this agitation until LG Polymers is relocated,” they demanded Avanit Srinivas.

Later talking to mediapersons, DGP Gautam Sawang said the Andhra Pradesh government officials including chief secretary Nilam Sawhney, scientists and the company’s officials were holding a meeting to asses the situation. “The matter is under investigation. I will not be able to comment on that. A committee has been set up to probe the issue. We will wait for it. They will be more competent to speak about it. However, the current situation is under control as far as the gas leak is concerned. Though everything is normal, we are giving another 24 hours time to monitor the situation.” The DGP left after uttering these few words.

After three hours of protest, the kin of the deceased were pacified and the three bodies laid on the road were taken away in government ambulances. Some of the protesting residents were arrested by forcibly bundling them into trucks and whisked away.

On Friday, TDP chief and former chief minister, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urged for the constitution of a Scientific Experts’ Committee to carry out a detailed probe into the gas leak and the circumstances that led to the release of toxic vapours/gases. The company claims that the gas leaked out was Styrene. However, there were conflicting reports of other toxic gases being involved, which needs to be investigated to understand the enduring health impacts, he wrote. ‘Close monitoring of the ambient air quality is required in and around Visakhapatnam city for understanding present and future impact. Roping in national and international health-experts for proper health assessment and accordingly to take immediate and long-term health measures. This assessment would be helpful in giving proper compensation,” Naidu suggested.

The gas leak in Vizag took the lives of 12 people, including two children. More than 350 hospitalized, according to official figures, of these more than 50 are children, many of whom are minors. Around 193 were undergoing treatment at King’s George Hospital, 66 at private hospitals and another 57 at various health centers. On Thursday, people fell like a pack of cards, some fell off their bikes, some morning walkers collapsed inhaling the toxic fumes, children and women were found unconscious on the pavements.

The KGH hospital in Vizag had to grapple with a swarm of patients cramming hospital emergency rooms with more than two gas victims being treated in one bed. There were children everywhere, often two to three to a bed. Some were brothers and sisters. According to unconfirmed reports, at least 1,000 were affected inhaling the toxic fumes. A TV9 report showed mothers wailing for their missing children.

Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who flew to Vizag on Thursday, consoled the victims of the gas leak at the KGH hospital. He set up a high-level committee to probe the incident, announced Rs 1 crore compensation to the kin of the deceased and Rs 10 lakh to those who are in ventilators. After the probe report, Jagan assured that the government could relocate the LG Polymers factory if required.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called up Jagan to inquire about the situation and convened a meeting of the National Disaster Management Authority at his residence in New Delhi.The LG Polymers officials met Jagan at the Visakhapatnam airport lounge. Jagan wondered why the gas and flame detectors failed to raise an alarm when the gas leaked.

Taking suo motu notice of the Vizag gas tragedy, the High Court served notices on the Andhra Pradesh and central governments asking how such a factory storing lethal gases could be allowed to continue in residential neighborhood. The NHRC issued a notices to Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney and DGP Gautam Sawang seeking a detailed report on the incident.