Gas leak from LG Polymers plant kills 11

A leak of styrene vapour from a chemical plant of LG Polymers India Private Ltd (LGPI), an arm of South Korea’s LG Chem, in Visakhapatnam on Thursday, claimed 11 lives and led to the hospitalisation of hundreds of people.

Covid-19 ambulances and medical teams came in handy in the rescue operations. According to AP Minister for Industries M Goutham Reddy, the plant was operating in self-monitoring and self-certification mode. “LG Polymers is responsible for maintaining the plant, and the incident, it appears as of now, has happened during the process of re-starting... after the lockdown,” he said.

The plant has a polystyrene (PS) capacity of 80kt/year. The unit was shut down due to the lockdown.