At least eight people, including a child, were killed while more than a thousand others were hospitalised after a chemical gas leaked at a pharmaceutical company in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam on Thursday. The incident occurred at RR Venkatapuram village of the area where gas leakage was identified at LG Polymers in Gopalpatnam. In a statement, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Commissioner Srijana has said that primary reports suggest polyvinyl chloride gas (or Styrene) has leaked from the chemical plant. Styrene is commonly used in the manufacture of plastic products using in food packaging, rubber, plastic, insulation, fibreglass, pipes and automobile parts. Also called PVC gas, polystyrene is found in different forms, Styrene or Polystyrene Plastic, Polystyrene Foam (often referred to as Styrofoam), and Polystyrene Film.

Source: dna May 07, 2020 09:00 UTC