In a major industrial mishap, two persons were charred to death in a fire and blast in a reactor of a pesticides manufacturing company at Cheruvukommupalem in Prakasam district in the wee hours of Wednesday.
The fire broke out in the third production block at about 2.30 a.m in the third floor of the plant following suspected "electric short circuit", resulting in a blast in one of the four solvent distilling reactors at the Bhagiradha Chemicals & Industries Limited (BCIL), Revenue Division Officer K Naga Babu said. Four others working in the ground floor fled to safety.
Police said fire tenders tamed the flames after fighting for over three hours at the chemical unit. Four of the 12 reactors were functioning at the time of the mishap, BCIL Production B Navin Kumar said.
Panic gripped the people of the surrounding villages including Yerajala, Venkamukapalem and Cheruvukommupalem who came out of their houses following deafening sound and thick smoke emanating from the unit. They staged a dharna demanding action against the company.
Assistant Superintendent of Police R Jayalakshmi said a case had been registered against BPCL under 304(a) IPC for "negligence". "A safety audit will be conducted to ascertain the cause of the mishap", she added.
District Collector Kantilal Dande visited the BPCL to console the family members of the deceased and coordinate relief operations. The production was halted in the plant.
