At least 17 workers were killed and 20 others sustained burns in a major fire that broke out reportedly after a reactor blast in Escientia Advanced Sciences Private Ltd. in the Special Economic Zone at Atchutapuram in Anakapalli of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday. The company manufactures intermediate chemicals and pharmaceutical ingredients.
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The death toll is likely to go up as bodies of several workers were feared trapped under the rubble of the slab of the first floor of the four-storey building. The impact of the blast was so strong that the severed body parts of some workers were thrown to some distance on the company premises. Thick flames and smoke engulfed the area.
Ten fire tenders from Anakapalli and Visakhapatnam, apart from a few from the pharma units, rushed to the spot. Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were pressed into action. The personnel safely shifted a number of workers stuck on the third floor.
A worker who was injured in the fire accident in a pharma company at AP SEZ at a hospital at Anakapalli on August 21, 2024. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
As many as 381 workers have been working in two shifts in the company. The accident occurred around 2.15 p.m., during shift change.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.
Slam management
A large number of workers from surrounding pharma companies, residents from Lalam Koduru, Maturu, SEZ Colony, members from various workers’ unions, leaders from the CITU, CPI(M) and other parties reached the factory and expressed their anger at the management for its alleged violation of safety norms. Family members of the workers were seen weeping inconsolably.
“It has been over six hours since the accident occurred, but till now there is no clarity regarding the death toll and injured workers. Though such accidents have been occurring frequently, no measures have been taken. Do our lives matter,” a furious pharma worker asked.
An ambulance coming out of the pharma company to shift the injured workers to a hospital at Achutapuram SEZ in Anakapalli on August 21, 2024. | Photo Credit:
CITU district vice-president Ganisetti Satyanarayana said such a major accident had not occurred in recent times. He said 12 fire tenders were engaged in dousing the fire for over six hours, but still the firemen were not able to bring the situation under control.
CPI(M) Anakapalli district secretary K. Lokanadham said repeated accidents had been occurring due to alleged negligence and apathy of the managements. The previous governments had not bothered and failed to take stringent measures. It had been several years since a safety audit was conducted.
“Only during such accidents, the authorities form committees. Later the reports of the committees are ignored,” he alleged.
Spread across 40 acres, Escientia Advanced Sciences Private Limited was set up at Atchutapuram SEZ in 2019 with a budget of around ₹200 crore. The company manufactures Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API).
Minister expresses grief
IT Minister Nara Lokesh expressed grief over the incident and assured complete support to the family members of the victims.
Former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock and grief over the incident. Extending his condolences to the bereaved families, the YSRCP president urged the government to ensure that the injured received the best possible medical treatment. He called upon the authorities to take immediate steps to prevent such incidents in future.
Police teams with forensic experts were at the site and an investigation is on.
