At least eleven persons have died and hundreds have fallen sick due to a massive gas leakage in LG Polymers plant at R R Venkatapuram on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam in the wee hours of Thursday.More than 800 people were evacuated from R R Venkatapuram following a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) styrene gas leak and most of them only needed first aid. Of this, at least 246 persons with health complications are undergoing treatment at the King George Hospital. Here's all you need to know about LG Polymers plant where the toxic gas leak incident happened.
As per reports, gas started leaking in the early hours of Thursday when the workers were preparing for the reopening of the plant. It is being said that it was triggered by a malfunctioning of a valve. Eleven people have died and 246 hospitalised in the incident. A senior official investigating the matter told Business Today on condition of anonymity that the " valve controls for the gas were not handled properly and they burst causing the leak".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the situation was being monitored closely, having spoken to the officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Disaster Management Authority. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy held a high-level review meeting to take stock of the situation and ordered a probe into the matter, according to state DGP D Gautam Sawang.
LG Polymers India Private Limited, owned by South Korean battery maker LG Chemical, was established in 1961 as "Hindustan Polymers" for manufacturing polystyrene and its co-polymers at Visakhapatnam, India.
Located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, LG Polymers is part of the plastic resin & synthetic fiber manufacturing industry. It manufactures polystyrene and high impact polystyrene, expandable polystyrene, and engineering plastic compounds.
In 1978, the company was merged with McDowell & Company Ltd. of Vittal Mallya-led United Breweries Group.
In July, 1997, LG Chemical acquired 100 per cent stake in Hindustan Polymers and renamed it as LG Polymers India Private Limited (LGPI). LG Chemical considered India as an important market and in its aggressive global growth plan identified Hindustan Polymers as a suitable company for entering Indian market.
LG Chemical has a very strong presence in Styrenics business in South Korea and plans to establish an equally strong presence in Indian market by current product range of PS and EPS. LG Chemical is one of the leading manufacturers of polystyrene and expandable polystyrene in India.