At least six workers died and 13 were injured after a fire broke out at a pharmaceutical unit in Eluru district of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, ANI reported. Superintendent of Police Rahul Sharma said the fire was caused due to leakage of chemicals.
Those injured have been admitted to a government hospital in Vijaywada, Sharma said, according to PTI.
The deceased were identified as Udurupathi Krishnaiah, B Kiran Kumar, Kaaru Ravi Das, Manoj Kumar, Suvaas Ravi Das, and Habdas Ravi Das. Four of them were migrant workers from Bihar, NDTV reported.
Locals have in the past demanded relocation of the pharmaceutical over complains of pollution, PTI reported.
“Even crops are not growing properly because of the pollution and we have been demanding for long that the plant be shifted from here,” a villager told the news agency.
Eluru District Collector V Prasanna Venkatesh has ordered shutting down the unit pending further investigation.
“We are investigating what led to the accident,” Venkatesh told PTI. “Did high pressure cause the reactor to blow up? whether hazardous chemicals were being used? We will probe all such aspects. We are also investigating if any rules were violated in the operation of the plant.”
State Chief Secretary Sameer Sharma has directed Venkatesh to submit an inquiry report on the incident, PTI reported.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed grief over the incident. He announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the families of the deceased, Rs 5 lakh to those critically injured and Rs 2 lakh to those who sustained minor injuries, according to ANI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also offered their condolences to the bereaved families and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured workers.
Porus Laboratories is a Hyderabad based company that manufactures pharmaceutical intermediaries and speciality chemicals, PTI reported. It has five units in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!