Vizag Gas Leak: PM Modi Holds Meeting With NDMA To Review Situation; AP Minister Says Gas Now Neutralised

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (7 May) held an emergency meeting with the officials of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) after a gas leak from a polymers plant killed at least eight people in Visakhapatnam, ANI tweeted.

Among the dead were two senior citizens and an 8-year-old girl, while over 800 people have been hospitalised so far.

The whole situation created panic in the wee hours of Thursday following a suspected gas leak in a chemical factory in the R R Venkatapuram village in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam. Eyewitness said that many people were lying unconscious on the ground.

The incident took place at a polymers unit located in the vicinity of the Naiduthota area near Gopalapatnam.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were also present at the meeting among other officials.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Industries Minister M G Reddy said the gas had been neutralised to harmless liquid form.

“After gas leakage was reported in the factory, lockdown procedure was initiated immediately. Local admin was informed. Gas was neutralized to harmless liquid form. But, little gas escaped factory premises&affected people in nearby areas,” he said as quoted by ANI.