In the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, a chemical plant released toxic gas into the air, causing a massive evacuation in the city.

India’s Natural Disaster Response Force went in with hazmat suits and gas masks, while many of the city’s habitants were seen running away, carrying injured and unconscious over their shoulders, and covering their faces with makeshift face masks.

11 have been confirmed dead with hundreds more hospitalized in a village with 3,000 people.

Most of the dead were apparently driving or standing outside their homes before losing consciousness where they were, with three dead being children.

The gas was styrene, which is a flammable liquid used to make a variety of industrial products, including polystyrene, fiberglass, rubber, and latex. The gas was released into the factory’s chimney and was carried by the wind.

There are 10,000 people within the affected area.

It seems it could have been much worse, as the plant was planning to reopen after the coronavirus lockdown restrictions were lifted and was in the process of restarting the operations. Thus, it was during regular maintenance and gauging that they found a leak from a storage tank, where chemical was turned into a gas.

The plant was shut down within an hour, but it wasn’t fast enough; no alarm was raised upon the gas leakage. Nonetheless, it is not expected that the gas leak will be as bad as Bhopal disaster of 1984, which led to death of 4,000 people.

코리일보/COREEDAILY

Coree ILBO copyright © 2013-2020. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part with out the express written permission.