Over 50 women hospitalised after suspected gas leak in industrial area near Visakhapatnam

Vizag: About 50 women workers of an apparel firm fell ill after gas leakage from an adjacent chemical company in Andhra Pradesh's Anakapalle district on Tuesday, officials said.

The gas leak affected the staff of Seeds Apparel India in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Atchutapuram area.

The workers complained of nausea and vomiting after the gas leak.

The workers - all women, according to news agency PTI - were administered first aid in the medical centre at the SEZ and later shifted to nearby hospitals.

Superintendent of police Gowthami Sali and her team visited the unit and interacted with some workers of the unit. The police said that they were yet to ascertain the cause of the accident

"The gas leak reportedly took place at the premises of Brandix. 50 people have been shifted to hospitals, and evacuation is underway at the premises," said Superintendent of Police, Anakapalle.

Seeds Apparel India, which employs only women is located on the 1,000 acres campus of Brandix, which is located next to Porus Labs, the chemical company.

Industries Minister Gudivada Amarnath spoke to the district Collector over phone and directed officials to provide best possible treatment to the affected.

This is the second incident of gas leak from the same company in two months. On July 3, more than 200 women employees were affected.

Seeds Apparel and Porus Labs were shut down for a week. The government had ordered an inquiry after closing down the factory

Officials suspect that ammonia gas leaked from the Porus Laboratories unit in the area.