Nearly two months after the Vizag gas leak that had left 13 people dead and hundreds hospitalised, the Vizag police on Tuesday night has arrested 11 employees, including CEO and two directors of the South Korean company LG Polymers.

The police arrested LG Polymers CEO Sunke Jeyong, director DS Kim, additional director Mohan Rao, eight officials including engineers were taken into custody for the gas leak. Further, the police has booked cases against LG Polymers under Sections 278, 284, 285, 304, 337 and 338.

The arrest comes a day after the high-power committee, which submitted a 350-page report on Monday to Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, nailed the LG Polymers for human negligence and security lapses that led to the gas leak killing 13 people and hundreds hospitalised.

The committee headed by Forest Department Special Secretary Neerab Kumar, which had looked into various aspects that led to the gas leak, found fault with the management of LG Polymers for lack of proper safety response preparedness at the plant. The committee found that the gas leak occurred as the plant’s cooling system failed.

The report cited the lack of experience of LG Polymers India staff in monitoring and maintaining full tanks of styrene. “Our observations revealed that the management did not take proper care of the gas storage tank. There was a total breakdown on the part of the LG Polymers staff in handling the situation. There was insufficient knowledge of staff on styrene gas. There were poor safety protocols and poor safety management. The design of the styrene storage tanks was faulty, temperature monitoring and refrigeration systems had failed. There was no preparedness of the staff and officials to deal with the situation,” he pointed out.

The gas leak occurred on May 7 in the early hours from the plant operated by L G Polymers at Venkatapuram village outside Visakhaptanam. Horrific scenes of people gasping for breath and falling like leaves in the street unfolded. More than 350 hospitalized, according to official figures, of these more than 50 were children, many of whom are minors. 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.

Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who had set up a high-level committee to probe the incident, announced Rs 1 crore compensation to the kin of the deceased. On June 1, the NGT had ordered the South Korean company to deposit Rs 50 crore. The Supreme Court had put on hold, for 10 days, the disbursal of Rs 50 crore compensation by LG Polymers for the Vizag gas leak incident, as directed by the National Green Tribunal.

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.

The National Green Tribunal on Friday directed LG Polymers to deposit Rs 50 crore with the Vishakhapatnam administration for inflicting damage to life, public health and environment.

On Thursday, a leak of chemical vapour from the LG Polymers plant on the outskirts of the coastal city killed 12 people while over 350 people who inhaled the toxic gas are undergoing treatment at the hospital.

The next date of hearing is May 18.

The NGT took suo moto cognizance of the matter and stated, “Having regard to the prima facie material regarding the extent of damage to life, public health and environment, we direct LG Polymers India Pvt Ltd to forthwith deposit an initial amount of Rs 50 crore with the District Magistrate, Visakhapatnam.”

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel also formed a five-member committee to visit and inspect the site and submit its report before the next date of hearing.

The team has been asked to specifically report on the sequence of events, causes of failure and authorities responsible, extent of damage to life, human and non-human, public health and environment.

They have also been directed to submit the steps to be taken for compensation of the victims and restitution of the damaged property and environment, and remedial measures to prevent recurrence.

The committee comprises Justice B. Seshasayana Reddy, former Judge of Andhra Pradesh High Court, V. Rama Chandra Murthy, former Vice Chancellor of Andhra University, and Pulipati King, Head of Chemical Engineering Department of Andhra University.

It also involves Member Secretary of CPCB, Director of CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology and Head of National Environmental Engineering Research Institute.

The Member Secretary of Central Pollution Control Board will act as the nodal agency for their coordination.

The NGT bench, also comprising Judge Sheo Kumar Singh and Nagin Nanda, has sought response from the AP State Pollution Control Board, District Magistrate, Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and LG Polymers India on the incident.

The tribunal stated that the Styrene gas released from the plant is a hazardous chemical as defined under Rule 2(e) read with Entry 583 of Schedule I to the Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989.

“The Rules require on-site and off-site emergency plans to ensure prevention of damage. Leakage of hazardous gas at such a scale adversely affecting public health and environment, clearly attracts the principle of ‘strict liability against the enterprise engaged in hazardous or inherently dangerous industry’,” it added.