NEW DELHI, Jul 1 (NNN-PTI) – At least two people were killed and five others injured yesterday, after a solvent reactor exploded at a pharmaceutical company, in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, officials said.
The explosion took place at the Sahiti Pharma Company, in the Achutapuram Pharma Special Economic Zone of Anakapalli district, about 39 km south-west of Visakhapatnam, the main city of Andhra Pradesh.
The explosion triggered a massive blaze inside the building, following which authorities rushed firefighters to the spot.
Thick columns of smoke and bright flame billowed from the pharma unit, witnesses said.
“The fire in the premises has been brought under control,” M M Ali, a senior official at Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, said.
Reports said, nearly three dozen people were present in the pharma company at the time of the explosion, and a majority of them managed to escape unharmed.
Preliminary investigations suggest the explosion might have happened due to the boiling of solvents at high temperatures.
Accidental explosions are common at Indian factories, as owners usually ignore safety standards.– NNN-PTI
