One dead and 20 in hospital after toxic gas leak at pharmaceutical plant in Andhra

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One person died and 20 fell sick after a toxic gas leak at a pharma unit today in Anakapalli in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam.


Hydrogen chloride (HCl), a toxic gas, started leaking at Tagoor Laboratories Private Limited, a pharma unit in Anakapalli. One person died and eight were taken to the hospital. Reports say at least seven are now out of danger.


A liquid spill reportedly led to the accident. The staff inhaled a combination of HCl and Cholorform, a volatile, colourless dense liquid used as a solvent, in industries and for medical use.


It is alleged that the manager tried to cover up the industrial accident. District officials have reached the site and an inspection is underway.


Last week, three people died and nine were injured after a gas leak at a fertiliser plant in Maharashtra. On November 22, a blast in a reactor at a fertiliser plant led to a gas leak in Maharashtra's Sangli district.


Police said a reactor at the fertiliser plant exploded releasing chemical fumes.


Due to the gas leak, some 12 people in the unit were affected and taken to hospital. Of them, two women workers and a security guard have died. Nine others are being treated," said Sangram Shewale, senior inspector of Kadegaon police station.