Andhra: Chemical leak at Synergene Active Ingredients leaves four workers injured

Visakhapatnam: Less than 48 hours after an explosion in a pharmaceutical unit at the Atchutapuram SEZ in Ankapalle district left 17 dead, another industrial accident caused serious injuries to four workers.

The mishap occurred at Synergene Active Ingredients Private Limited Unit B-block in Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City (JN Pharma City), Parawada on Thursday night. Losartan chemical due to static electricity flashed the vapor due to which four people sustained severe injuries.

The injured workers were identified as Oybonkorha (22), K Suryanarayana (36), Lalsingh Purthy (24), and Roya Angira (22). All of them are natives of Jharkhand. They were rushed to a private hospital in Visakhapatnam for treatment. One of the workers' condition is said to be critical.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu spoke to the district authorities and enquired about the incident. He directed officials to provide better treatment to the injured and asked Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha to pay a visit to the victims.

Anakapalli Superintendent of Police M Deepika Patil said a fire broke out around 1 am in a factory at Parawada in JN Pharma City.

“No deaths, four injured. It was a flash fire. A chemical power and a chemical liquid were being mixed... The vapours got ignited by static electricity and there were four workers, from Jharkhand, present in the room,” Patil told PTI. However, she also said the situation is under control now.

Headquartered at Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad, Syngene Active Ingredients runs two units and Jaahnavee Life Sciences in JN Pharma City, employing around 600 people.

A powerful vapour cloud explosion caused a fire accident at a private pharma unit in Atchutapuram in Anakapalli district on August 21, leading to 17 deaths and injuring around 40 workers.

NHRC orders probe into pharma factory fire in Andhra

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of an explosion that killed at least 17 workers and injured several others at a private industrial unit in Andhra Pradesh's Anakapalli district and directed the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.

A major fire and explosion ripped through a pharma unit on Wednesday. The damage could have been worse but fewer workers were in the plant when the accident occurred due to it being lunchtime. The death toll is expected to rise as search operations continue.

The NHRC in a statement on Friday expressed deep concern over the apparent violation of safety norms that led to the incident.

The commission has issued notices to the Andhra Pradesh chief secretary and the director general of police, directing them to conduct a thorough investigation in the matter.

The probe is expected to examine if the industrial unit adhered to all safety regulations and legal requirements and whether there was any negligence on the part of the authorities responsible for supervising the facility.

The NHRC has mandated that a detailed report be submitted within two weeks. The report should include the status of the FIR filed in connection with the incident, the treatment being provided to the injured and the disbursement of compensation to the kin of those killed or injured.

The commission has also sought information on any relief and rehabilitation efforts undertaken for the victims and the action taken against officials found responsible.

The explosion sparked widespread concern, with State Disaster Response Force teams continuing its search for survivors. The cause of the explosion remains unclear and the authorities fear that more bodies may be trapped under the rubble.

Inputs from PTI