At least 7 workers lost their lives, and 50 others were injured following a massive fire triggered by an explosion in a reactor at a pharmaceutical unit in Anakapalle, Andhra Pradesh, on Wednesday afternoon. The explosion took place during the lunch break at Escientia, a pharma company located in the Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
VIDEO | Visuals from outside a chemical factory in the Special Economic Zone in the Rambilli Mandal of Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalle, where a blast left several workers injured earlier today. pic.twitter.com/dQ6YpOTnuu
---Advertisement---— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 21, 2024
Victims Identified
Two of the deceased workers have been identified as Pudi Mohan and N. Harika. Several others suffered severe burn injuries and were immediately rushed to hospitals in Anakapalle and Visakhapatnam for treatment. Officials indicated that the death toll could rise, as some of the injured were in critical condition. Approximately 300 employees were in the company when the explosion occurred.
Explosion and Aftermath
The explosion caused a significant fire, filling the surrounding area with thick smoke, which hampered rescue operations. Dozens of fire engines from Anakapalle and nearby regions were deployed to control the blaze. Escientia employs over 1,000 workers and is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the SEZ.
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Local Reaction and Concerns
Residents of nearby villages reported hearing a loud explosion, while employees gathered outside the company premises demanding compensation for the victims and calling for accountability from officials for alleged negligence.
This is the third reactor explosion at the Atchutapuram SEZ. A similar incident on July 17 at Vasantha Chemicals led to the death of a 44-year-old migrant worker from Odisha. Concerns about safety standards in the industrial hub are being raised once again following this latest tragedy.
