A devastating explosion followed by a fire at a pharmaceutical plant in southern India claimed at least 18 lives, Fox News reports, citing police reports.
The incident occurred on Wednesday at the Escientia Company in the Anakapalle district of Andhra Pradesh.
The death toll rose from an initial count of 15 after three more of the some 40 injured workers succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. Police officer M. Deepika stated that several of the injured are in critical condition, while media reports indicated distressing scenes at local hospitals, where the skin of some workers was severely injured. Emergency responders transported the victims to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been triggered by an electrical fault within the chemical reactor of the plant. In light of the tragedy, state authorities have ordered a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the explosion.
The Escientia Company, founded just five years ago, specializes in the manufacture of intermediate chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. The facility is located approximately 350 kilometers (220 miles) northeast of Amaravati, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh.
As the news of the explosion spread, concerned family members of the workers quickly gathered at the plant, anxious for information regarding their loved ones. Fortunately, many employees were on their lunch break at the time of the blast, allowing them to escape before the fire engulfed the facility.
The factory is situated in the state’s special economic zone in Atchutapuram village, which was established in 2009 and houses over 200 companies. Anakapalli is adjacent to the industrial port city of Vishakhapatnam, which has seen numerous industrial accidents, including hazardous chemical leaks.
A similar incident occured in 1997, when a massive explosion at a Hindustan Petroleum Corporation refinery in Visakhapatnam resulted in 22 fatalities. Fires in factories have become increasingly common in India due to violations of building codes and safety regulations, with inadequate firefighting measures often in place. In 2019, for instance, a fire caused by an electrical short circuit in a New Delhi factory led to 43 deaths.
