Visakhapatnam gas leak case: Judicial remand of 12 accused extended till Aug 5

The judicial remand of 12 accused in connection with the Visakhapatnam gas leak case has been extended till August 5. The gas leak incident, which claimed 12 lives, took place on May 7 of this year.

Visakhapatnam: The judicial remand of 12 accused, including the CEO and two directors of LG Polymers, has been extended till August 5 in connection with the Visakhapatnam gas leak case, police said.

The accused had been arrested on July 8 and were sent to remand till July 22. Their remand was extended after Visakhapatnam police on Wednesday approached the magistrate for the same.

The police had produced the 12 accused through video conferencing in front of the magistrate.

The gas leak incident, which claimed 12 lives, following which cases were filed against the LG Polymers management.

According to reports, the arrests were made a day after the High-Power Committee, appointed by the state government to probe the vapour leak, submitted its report to Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, blaming multiple inadequacies on part of LG and slackness of management over poor safety protocols and total breakdown of the emergency response procedures in the plant that resulted in the tragedy.

The Gopalapatnam police registered a case on May 7 against LG Polymers at R R Venkatapuram, under various IPC Sections including 278 (making atmosphere noxious to health).

After 2 months, the High Power Committee headed by Neerabh Kumar Prasad, special CS (EFS&T) has submitted its report to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in July.

The HPC, headed by Environment and Forests Special Chief Secretary Neerabh Kumar Prasad, submitted a 4000-page report to Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy

At least 12 people had lost their lives and hundreds were admitted to hospitals after styrene gas leak took place at LG Polymers industry in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam on the morning of May 7.

Read:Visakhapatnam gas leak: What did LG Polymers manufacture?

(With inputs from agencies)