A pharmaceutical plant explosion in Andhra Pradesh, India, has resulted in 17 fatalities and 40 injuries, according to official reports. The blast occurred on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.
The explosion took place at the Escientia Advanced Sciences manufacturing unit in the Anakapalli district at around noon, causing considerable damage to the plant. The fact that most of the plant’s 380 workers were on a break potentially saved numerous lives. However, those near the epicenter of the explosion suffered severe chemical burns.
“It was horrible, heartbreaking. They were screaming before they lost consciousness,” M Buchaiah, an officer from the Atchutapuram police station, told The Indian Express. The injured workers, some with their “skin peeling off,” were immediately transported to nearby hospitals, where three later succumbed to their injuries.
Escientia Advanced Sciences, a company that started operations in 2019, manufactures intermediate chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. These components are essential for producing various medications, often for export. The plant, situated within a special economic zone in the village of Atchutapuram, covers approximately 40 acres and operates with 24-hour shifts.
Initial investigations suggest that a chemical solvent leak triggered the explosion. N Yuvaraj, the state’s Industries Secretary, said, “There was some vapor leak that led to chemical reactions, which caused the explosion.”
In response to the incident, six fire engines were deployed to the scene to combat the fire, and the National Disaster Response Force was called in for rescue efforts. The fire was eventually controlled, but not before causing significant damage. The site is now the subject of a government-led inquiry to establish the exact cause of the incident and determine if human error was a factor.
L Srinivas Rao, a local politician, highlighted the hazardous nature of the work performed by those killed or injured in the explosion. “The workers who died or were injured do the most crucial and dangerous jobs,” Rao said in a statement to The Indian Express, reflecting wider concerns about the safety of industrial workers in India, a country where regulatory oversight is often deemed insufficient.
Incidents of fires and explosions at factories and plants are not rare in the country, often due to inadequate enforcement of safety regulations. The Anakapalli district, where the latest incident occurred, has experienced similar tragedies in the past. Last year, a comparable accident at another pharmaceutical factory in the district resulted in two deaths and five injuries.
The Escientia plant explosion is among the most severe industrial accidents in recent history in Andhra Pradesh. The company is now under significant scrutiny as the state government has mandated a thorough investigation. Officials are currently reviewing security camera footage and interviewing injured workers to reconstruct the events leading to the disaster.
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu expressed his grief over the loss of lives and called for strict action against those responsible. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his condolences to the families of the victims through a post on a social media platform X.
As the investigation proceeds, the affected families are dealing with the devastating aftermath of the explosion. The state government has announced ex-gratia payments of ₹1 crore (approximately $120,000) to the families of the deceased, ₹50 lakhs (approximately $60,000) for those severely injured, and ₹25 lakhs (approximately $30,000) for those with moderate injuries. While these sums are substantial, they offer little consolation for the pain and loss suffered by the affected families.
