The Vizag gas leak incident that occurred in May 2020
was indeed a tragic event amidst the already distressing
backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. The incident took
place at the LG Chem's LG Polymers plant located in RR
Venkatapuram village near Visakhapatnam, Andhra
Pradesh, India. Here's a detailed overview of how and
why the accident occurred, as well as the parties liable
for it:
**1. Cause of the Accident:**
**Chemical Reaction:** The primary cause of the gas leak
was identified as the reaction of styrene, a highly
flammable liquid that is used in the production of
polystyrene plastics. Styrene is stored in its liquid state
under pressure, and at normal temperatures, it remains
stable. However, when exposed to higher temperatures, it
can undergo a rapid polymerization reaction, leading to
an increase in pressure within storage tanks.
**Temperature Fluctuation:** It was reported that the
plant had been shut down for several weeks due to the
COVID-19 lockdown, during which time maintenance
activities were halted. When the plant resumed
operations, styrene stored in the tanks had undergone
temperature fluctuations, causing it to polymerize and
generate heat. This resulted in a significant rise in
pressure within the storage tanks.
**Safety Systems Failure:** The safety systems at the
plant, including the refrigeration system meant to keep
the styrene at a stable temperature, reportedly failed to
prevent the polymerization reaction. Additionally, the
plant lacked adequate safety measures such as a gas
detection system and an effective alarm system to alert
workers and nearby residents in case of emergencies.
**Human Error:** There were also reports of human error,
as workers failed to notice the rise in temperature and
pressure within the storage tanks, which could have
allowed them to take preventive measures before the gas
leak occurred.
**2. Liability:**
**LG Polymers India:** As the owner and operator of the
plant, LG Polymers India was held primarily liable for the
incident. It was their responsibility to ensure the safety of
the plant operations, including maintaining and
monitoring the storage of hazardous chemicals like
styrene. Investigations revealed lapses in safety protocols
and inadequate maintenance of the plant, which
contributed to the accident.
**Government Regulatory Bodies:** There was also
criticism directed towards regulatory bodies such as the
Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) for failing
to enforce adequate safety regulations and conduct
regular inspections of the plant. It was argued that
stricter enforcement of safety standards could have
potentially prevented the accident.
**Local Authorities:** The local authorities, including the
district administration and emergency response teams,
were criticized for their delayed response to the incident.
There were reports of confusion and lack of coordination
in evacuating nearby residents and providing timely
medical assistance to those affected by the gas leak.
**Conclusion:**
The Vizag gas leak tragedy was a result of multiple
factors including lapses in safety protocols, inadequate
maintenance, and regulatory oversight. The incident
highlighted the need for stricter enforcement of safety
regulations in chemical plants and better emergency
response mechanisms to mitigate the impact of such
disasters in the future.
