Porus Labs inferno: APPCB shuts down Akkireddigudem plant after 6 workers were charred to death

Eluru: AP Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has shut down Porus Laboratories at Akkireddigudem after six people were charred to death and 12 others injured.

APPCB said the hazardous emissions from the factory have caused environmental pollution.

This follows the complaint by Chandholu Rajeev, who received a shoulder injury in the fire incident.

Eluru police registered against the management of Porus Labs under sections 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 304(II) (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Hyderabad-based Porus Laboratories is an 18-year-old company that manufactures pharmaceutical intermediates and specialty chemicals. It has five production blocks. However, the A&E block is not working for the last 18 months.

On April 13 night, around 18 workers were on a night shift in unit-4 when a stainless steel reactor exploded causing a Monomethylamine gas leak.

"It took place in block D in 3KL capacity reactor of 4-Nitro-N-Methyl phthalimide. The reaction is carried out at a temperature range between 150-180 degrees centigrade, which is highly exothermic. The uncontrolled reaction temperature might have led to pressuring the reactor, which could have led to the explosion", said vice president Technical D Prasada Rao.

The injured workers have more than 75 percent burns and are undergoing treatment in Vijayawada.

"We have initiated an inquiry to ascertain the details of the incident. We are trying to figure out what led to the accident. The forensic team will take samples of the chemicals from the crime scene and investigate the case," said Eluru district Collector, V Prasanna Venkatesh.

State Chief Secretary Sameer Sharma asked the Eluru district collector to conduct a thorough inquiry into the mishap and submit a report.