Guwahati: As many as 50 women employees were taken to the hospital following a gas leak at an apparel manufacturing facility in the Brandix Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Atchutapuram of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday.
Initial reports stated that the women are experiencing unconsciousness as a result of vomiting and nausea brought on by breathing harmful gas at Quantum Seeds, a location in Brandix.
According to Anakapalle police, a few women became unwell as a result of a gas leak at an Atchutapuram-based business. Some of them were rushed to a local hospital. No one was permitted on the property while police awaited the arrival of Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Bureau (APPCB) representatives to inspect the plant.
Police Inspector Anakapalle stated, “The incident took place between 6:15 and 7 pm. There were around 1000 employees in the second shift, which was between 2 pm to 10 pm. 50 women complaining of vomiting and nausea were shifted to Ankapalle Hospital.”
The official further said, “All others have been evacuated. The situation is under control. The employees fell sick with mild symptoms and are undergoing treatment. The reason for the incident is yet to be known. No fatalities have been reported.”
The real cause of the sickness was not known immediately as medical examinations were underway at the plant to assess the gas leak incident.
Some of the workers were administered with first aid in the medical centre in the SEZ, others had to be shifted to nearby hospitals, reported PTI quoting police. The report also mentioned that some of the workers who fell sick were pregnant.
It should be highlighted that the garment manufacturing facilities within the Brandix SEZ employ thousands of people, the majority of whom are women.
Police opened a thorough investigation into the situation after the plant’s gas smell subsided and it was deemed safe to enter.
In a previous gas leak incident at the SEZ on June 3, over 200 women had complained of eye irritation, nausea, and vomiting before becoming ill. The recent occurrence has caused anxiety among the staff members.