Andhra Pradesh pharma blast: Death toll falls to 17; Kam Naidu will visit the site today.
Expressing concern over the loss of life, CM N Chandrababu Naidu assured that the government would take full responsibility to help all the affected people.
VISAKHAPATNAM: In a major industrial accident, 17 workers were killed and over 30 injured when a fire broke out at a unit of Essentia Advanced Sciences Pvt Ltd in Achyutapuram SEZ of Rambilli mandal in Anakapalle district on Wednesday afternoon. According to a government statement, a reactor at the factory exploded at 2.15 pm, leading to the fire.
Officials fear that the death toll could rise as rescue operations are still underway. Teams of NDRF and SDRF have been deployed for rescue operations. Many injured are being taken to King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam. Rescue workers are trying to remove the debris as the first floor slab of the building was crushed. Officials are yet to confirm the exact number of workers present at the time of the incident and the death toll. Several people are reported to be trapped under the debris. Six fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot and additional equipment was mobilized from neighboring stations. Both Anakapalle District Collector and SP are supervising the rescue operation.
According to a government publication, although it was initially claimed that the accident was the result of a reactor explosion, the incident was actually caused by a large explosion that ignited after pumping solvent oil from one floor to another. The blast is said to have taken place at lunch time. The factory operates in two shifts with 381 employees.
Following the incident, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu held a teleconference to review the situation and directed that a high-level inquiry be conducted and a comprehensive report prepared.
The Chief Minister will go to Ankpalla today to console the injured workers
Expressing concern over the loss of life, he assured that the government would take full responsibility to help all the affected people. He will visit the accident site on Thursday and meet the injured workers.
He was informed that 17 people have died so far, while some of the injured are in critical condition. Officials pointed out that the response of pharmaceutical company management after the accident was inadequate.
He instructed officials to mobilize all available medical personnel to save lives. He was also briefed on the preliminary findings on the causes of the accident, including possible human errors and construction errors in the operation of the plant.
Naidu instructed Health Secretary MT Krishna Babu to rush to Anakapalla and directed the Collector to ensure that the injured get the best medical care. The chief minister also authorized the use of air ambulances to transport the injured if required. Naidu will visit the accident site on Thursday and also help the injured.
A tense situation prevailed outside the mortuary of King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam for a while on August 22 (Thursday) morning as relatives of the victims of the reactor blast at Ascintia Advanced Sciences Pvt Ltd in Anacapalli demanded that the authorities take action. A written undertaking regarding payment of compensation to them.
Unkappally Joint Collector Madida Janhvi was seen trying to convince the relatives of the victims to sign the autopsy forms. The relatives, however, insisted on a written commitment to pay ₹1 crore as compensation to the deceased's family.
No preliminary information has been provided, grief to the bereaved families
Meanwhile, the scene of the accident turned into a scene of mourning as families and relatives of the employees waited outside, uncertain about the fate of their loved ones.
Among them were Krishna Sai's mother and sister, who worked the normal shift and have been missing since the accident. “They don't tell us anything. Several officers have been moving in and out of the unit, but no one is divulging details. They don't even answer calls. My brother's phone rings, but no one answers. Employees leave their phones in lockers. They are neither letting us in nor giving us any basic information,” Sai's family members fumed.
Four of the 17 dead have been identified. Y Chinna Rao (32), Challapalli Harika (22), and Mohan Durga Prasad (20) died on the spot and another worker Ram Reddy (47) died during treatment at KGH.
Among the injured, 13 are undergoing treatment at Pawan Sai Hospital in Achyutapuram, 11 at Anakapalli NTR Hospital and nine at Usha Prime Hospital.
Describing the incident, eyewitnesses said, “Following the blast, the roof of the first floor collapsed, trapping many people under the debris. We saw people with severe burns, some completely burnt, thrown out of the building under the impact of the blast.
Family members and locals from nearby villages staged protests on the factory premises, escalating tensions with demands that officials and factory management ensure the safety of employees. Given that similar accidents have been reported in the Achyutapuram SEZ in the past, concerns about safety standards have once again come to the fore.
In response to the incident, Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha summoned the Anakapalle District Collector and asked officials to ensure that the injured receive proper medical treatment.
The Chief Minister will go to Ankpalla today to console the injured workers
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