Visakhapatnam: DGP D Gautam Sawang visits LG plant, vows action based on experts panel report

Visakhapatnam: Action would be initiated based on the submission of a detailed report by the five-member expert committee formed to inquire into the gas leak incident at LG Polymers, Director General of Police D Gautam Sawang said on Saturday.

After visiting the plant here, the DGP told the mediapersons that the situation in the area was pretty much under control. "However, the locals will be allowed to return after 48 hours for safety reasons," the DGP informed.

The styrene monomer gas leak from the LG Polymers on Thursday has so far claimed 12 lives and impacted 100 others.

The DGP visited the plant amid protests staged by the locals in the village for the immediate closure of the plant and against the apathy shown by the company's management towards the locals.

The DGP was accompanied by Special Chief Secretary (Industries) R Karikal Valaven.

They assured that steps were afoot to restore the situation to normalcy and there is no need to panic. After inspecting the storage tank at the plant, the DGP said that the ambient air quality has reasonably improved and in order to be on safer side, the locals were asked to stay away from their homes for the next 48 hours.

The DGP and the Special Chief Secretary added that scientists would arrive at the plant to review the situation further and based on their inspection, steps would be initiated to plug the loopholes.

Before cremating the dead bodies brought from the King George Hospital mortuary, the locals placed them in front of the main gate of LG Polymers as a part of their protest.

Commissioner of Police R K Meena was seen convincing the locals to calm down.