The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Three killed as reactor lid blows off

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Three killed as reactor lid blows off

Staff Reporter

Three other workers injured in the accident at Uma Organics

-Photos: Mohd.Yousuf

Grave danger: Onlookers gather at the site of explosion in industrial estate of Mankhal on Saturday. RIGHT: A view of the damaged reactor.

MANKHAL (R. R. District): Two workers of a chemical factory and a consultant chemist were killed when the lid of a reactor at Uma Organics Limited blew off here on Saturday morning. Three other workers who were injured were given treatment on the factory premises.

The two workers and the consultant were trying to examine the reactor. The pressure that was building up within the reactor was such that the solid steel lid shot past like a bullet with a deafening noise making a hole in the roof. The trio at the spot died instantaneously.

Tension gripped the factory, located around 30 km from the city, with relatives of the victims and different political parties demanding compensation to the victims. The management later agreed to pay Rs. 15 lakh each to the families of victims and Rs. 2 lakh each to the injured.

The dead were identified as Venkateswar Reddy, production in-charge, Krishna, consultant chemist, and Mahesh, reactor operator. They were overseeing trial manufacture of a new chemical substance when the blast took place around 9.30 a.m. Reddy’s brother Ramana, a technician in the same factory was present at the scene of the accident.

Eyewitness account

According to him, the trio realised that pressure was building up in the reactor No. 5. “My brother and Mahesh were discussing on how to control the pressure. Krishna bent over the reactor to take a look when the lid burst open,” Ramana recalled. Ramana and his two colleagues escaped with minor injuries as they were a little distance awayIn all, there are 13 reactors in the unit. All the window panes of the manufacturing unit and the near-by research and development block were damaged due to the blast impact.

Reddy’s relatives alleged if only the management had fitted a pressure gauge costing Rs. 200, the accident could have been averted and lives saved. Police registered a case of rash and negligent act resulting in death.

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