Over 100 Women Workers Of Garment Unit Hospitalised After Gas Leak In Andhra Pradesh SEZ

Visakhapatnam: More than 100 women employees of a garment manufacturing unit were hospitalised after inhaling leaking toxic gas at the Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalle district.

At least five women are on ventilator support at the Anakapalle Area Hospital. The condition of others, admitted to hospitals at Atchutapuram and Anakapalle, is stable, according to media reports.

Authorities are yet to identify the gas or its source. This is the second incident of gas leak at the SEZ in the last two months.

Police said the gas leak was noticed at around 6.45 pm on Tuesday. More than 2,000 women were working in the afternoon shift at that time.

Garment manufacturing firm Seeds Intimate Apparel India Pvt Ltd, located at the Brandix India Apparel City, said a “few of our associates complained of an unpleasant odour. They were taken to the closest hospital.” It said the company premises were evacuated soon after the incident.

District Collector Ravi Subhash Pattasani has ordered a probe into the gas leak.

On June 3, over 200 workers fell sick at the Brandix Apparel plant after inhaling toxic fumes.