根據路透社、法新社、新德里電視台（NDTV）報導，印度警方與政府官員今天表示，東岸一間化學工廠瓦斯外洩，已至少有8人死亡，逾300人住院，5000人表示身體不適。
警官拉尼在維沙哈巴南市（Visakhapatnam）稍早說：「送到附近醫院的傷患中，至少有70人沒有意識，共有200到500名當地人仍在（醫院）接受治療。」
拉尼說，這起事件是發生在樂金聚合物（LG Polymers）旗下一間工廠，瓦斯從兩個5000噸儲槽外洩，由於印度為因應新型冠狀病毒自3月底起封城，儲槽無人看管。
拉尼告訴法新社：「由於政府下達禁足令，沒有人看管儲槽，結果引發了化學反應，儲槽內熱氣增加，導致瓦斯外洩。」
她說：「我們是在今天凌晨3時左右接獲當地村民緊急報案，他們說空氣中有瓦斯味。」
拉尼說：「我們馬上趕抵現場，空氣中的瓦斯味很濃，一秒都待不住。救災人員準備就緒後，於凌晨4時開始救援。」
路透社報導有近6死；法新社最新消息說約有1000人送醫。美聯社說有5死、近1000人不適。
On Day 2 of the Lockdown 3.0, India remained on edge as a record number of new coronavirus cases on Tuesday pushed the nationwide Covid-19 tally closer to the 50,000-mark and the death toll crossed 1,500 with over 190 more fatalities.
While several authorities withdrew relaxations introduced from Monday, others relied on them to revive sinking state economies. While tipplers queued up outside the liquor shops, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh levied 70 and 75 per cent additional tases respectively on alcohol. Delhi and Punjab also spike the prices of petrol and diesel to make up for the lost revenues during the lockdown.
As the concern for coronavirus spread due to liquor queues gained traction on social media, states stressed that the revenue was crucial.
Meanwhile, the Centre announced ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ to bring back stranded Indians abroad. Air India will operate 64 repatriation flights for a week from May 7 while the Navy deployed two ships as India rolled out a massive evacuation plan on Tuesday to bring back thousands of its nationals stranded abroad due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdown.
Domestically, Indian Railways said that it has run 76 Shramik Special trains since May 1, carrying over 70,000 migrant labourers stranded due to the countrywide lockdown to their homes states. Twelve additional trains are likely to operate tomorrow.
Health Ministry justifies spike in cases
The Health Ministry said the country recorded a record single-day increase of 195 deaths and 3,900 cases between Monday 8 AM and Tuesday 8 AM. However, the ministry said that number was so high as it included old cases and deaths some states had not reported previously.
At the same time, the recovery rate has improved to 28.17 per cent, joint secretary at the health ministry Lav Aggarwal said during a press briefing on the Covid-19 situation.
“We are very comfortable in terms of managing Covid-19 as of now, but any laxity at the field level or any lack of cooperation may have its consequences,” he warned. Aggarwal also said that the delay in reporting of Covid-19 cases by certain states has led to the sudden spurt in figures.
Several state and central government officials also said that the numbers have been going up in recent days due to an increased number of tests being conducted.
Alcohol will now cost more in the national capital starting Tuesday. Authorities have decided to impose a 70 per cent special ‘Corona-fee’ on the minimum retail price (MRP) of alcohol in Delhi. The decision was announced on Monday and will be enforced from May 5 onwards.
The Delhi Police will allow liquor shops in the national capital to remain open from 9 am to 6:30 pm starting Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, 150 state-run liquor shops were opened in Delhi after a gap of 40 days. However, reports of massive crowds queueing outside liquor shops with absolutely no regard for social distancing or precautionary measures led authorities to retract the permission. As a result, liquor shops in Delhi’s four districts were asked to shut shop. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also said that relaxation on restrictions will be revered in areas where people are found violating safety guidelines.
The order was issued late on Monday night under the scope of powers conferred to the government of the national capital territory of Delhi under sub-section (1) of section 81 of the Delhi Excise Act, 2009 (Delhi Act Act 10 of 2010). The order has been titled “Delhi Excise (Amendment) Rules, 2020”.
The amendment has been made in rule 154 of the Delhi Excise Rules. According to the order, the cess will be applicable as, “70% of the maximum retail price on all categories of liquor sold through retail licensees for the consumption of the premises”.