Vizag Gas Leak Tragedy: More colonies to get compensation

Visakhapatnam: The district administration is gearing up to include few more colonies to the list of compensation for those impacted due to styrene monomer leak at LG Polymers plant. On May 7, the toxic gas that emanated from the plant claimed 12 lives and hospitalised hundreds.

With the vapour leak affecting those residing within 3-km radius, the government announced compensation only to those residing at RR Venkatapuram, Nandamuri Nagar, SC/BC Colony, Kamparapalem and Padmanabha Nagar.

However, colonies that fall under 3-km ambit have also been impacted due to chemical leak that occurred on the fateful day.

With health complaints trickling in from the residents of Gopalapatnam Railway Quarters, Banta colony, Sriram Nagar, Rajaka Colony, Srinubabu Nagar, Bapuji Nagar, Tailors Colony and Ajanta Park Colony and VUDA Colony which also fall within 3-km radius of the plant, the district administration is now trying to identify gas leak victims in these areas.

"The smell was horrible and we felt suffocated the whole day. Unable to stay home any longer, we rushed to a private hospital for treatment," says B Gopi, a resident of Bapuji Nagar.

Sharing the challenges faced by the locals, former corporator and executive president of YSCR leader Behara Bhaskar Rao says that a lot of people residing beyond the five villages have been suffering from a number of health issues as they inhaled the chemical gas for long.

"After speaking to the locals followed by the news report published in The Hans India, we also brought this issue to the notice of the state Ministers. They assured that they would provide compensation to the locals impacted due to styrene monomer leak residing beyond the five villages," he says.

The focus is not just the locals residing in villages of the plant but also those running small-time business units such as bakery units, eateries and general stores will also be considered as they have dumped their stock and raw material after the gas leak, adds Behara Bhaskar Rao.

An enumeration exercise has begun in colonies surrounding LG Polymers to identify the gas leak victims and help provide them aid.