Petrochemical
Probe blames safety lapses for deadly India gas leak at LG Polymers
The committee said the tanks from which the gas leaked May 7 at the LG Polymers plant in Vishakhapatnam, a port city in Andhra Pradesh state, were outdated and lacked temperature sensors.
- By ICN Bureau
| June 01, 2020
A committee appointed by India's top environmental court has blamed "gross human failure" and lack of basic safety norms for a gas leak in LG Polymers Vizag plant last month that killed 12 people and sickened hundreds.
The committee said the tanks from which the gas leaked May 7 at the LG Polymers plant in Vishakhapatnam, a port city in Andhra Pradesh state, were outdated and lacked temperature sensors.
The report, issued Thursday, said the response to the leak by workers at the factory was slow and the chemical company lacked experience in monitoring and maintaining tanks full of chemicals that sat idle for several weeks due to India's nationwide coronavirus lockdown.
LG Chem had maintained that LG Polymers India operated the plant "while abiding environmental regulations" and said it was closely monitoring efforts to handle the aftermath.
After the leak, police charged LG Polymers with culpable homicide, including negligence in handling toxic substances.
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