The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday ordered a high-level investigation into a gas leak at a garment factory in the Anakapalle district that left over a hundred people hospitalised.
Andhra Pradesh Industries Minister Gudivada Amarnath announced the decision to conduct the investigation and stated that the company will remain closed until the leakage investigation is completed.
He noted that this was the second instance of gas leakage in two months. Following the factory accident, 121 female workers were injured and are being treated in various hospitals throughout the Anakapalle district.
Earlier in June, approximately 178 female workers became ill as a result of a gas leak at a laboratory in the Atchutapuram area of the state’s Visakhapatnam, prompting the government to form a joint committee to investigate the cause. The cause was suspected to be a leak of air conditioning gas.
In response to the latest incident, the minister stated that the cause of the gas leak was unknown, and that police and pollution control board teams were investigating the matter.
According to Vishakhapatnam district officials, 53 people were admitted to a government hospital for treatment, while 41 others were treated in other district hospitals.
According to Amarnath, some samples were also sent to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for further examination.
Hemanth, the District Medical and Health Officer of Anakapalle, had previously stated that the majority of the patients complained of difficulty breathing, nausea, and vomiting.
According to reports, approximately 50 people were initially taken to the hospital after becoming ill on Tuesday as a result of a gas leak at the Brandix premises, after which employees fled in fear.