The gas leak from a chemical factory in Visakhapatnam on Thursday disrupted the movement of around 45 trains - nine Shramik Specials and the rest goods carriers - as rail workers suffering from irritation in their eyes and breathlessness halted work. Train services came to a halt at the Simhachalam North Railway Station (SCMN) in Visakhapatnam, near the chemical factory, between 8:35 hours and 12:00 hours, leading to several trains being stranded and prompting authorities to divert some others.
Passenger train services are suspended in the country due to the ongoing lockdown to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. But the railways has been operating a few Shramik Specials to ferry migrant labourers, students and pilgrims stranded due to the lockdown, besides goods trains. At least nine Shramik Specials and 36 goods trains were affected due to the gas leak that claimed 11 lives and left a thousand others ill. The gas leak impacted villages within a five-kilometer radius of the plant, according to officials. Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has ordered a detailed inquiry into the gas leak. Special CS, Secretary Industries, Secretary PCB, Collector, CP are to a part of the team.