NEW DELHI, Aug 22 (NNN-PTI) – At least 14 people were killed and many others injured yesterday, after a fire broke out, following an explosion at a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit, in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, officials said.
The fire was triggered by a blast near the reactor site inside the factory, in Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone (SEZ) of Anakapalle district, about 30 km west of Vishakhapatnam, the main city of Andhra Pradesh.
“The death toll in today’s (yesterday’s) blast and a subsequent major fire at a pharmaceutical firm, Escientia, in Atchutapuram SEZ has risen to 14,” an official at the Anakapalli collectorate said. “Since the rescue operations are underway, the complete details will be shared after its culmination.”
According to officials, the incident occurred during lunchtime.
Television images from the spot showed an ambulance entering the company’s premises, amid grey smoke surrounding the area.
Officials told media that, the factory operates with 381 employees in two shifts.
“The staff presence was less because of the lunchtime break,” a local news-gathering agency quoted Anakapalli District Collector, Vijaya Krishnan, as saying.
According to Indian Express, the powerful explosion left 18 people wounded, while the India Today television news channel put the number of the injured at 33.
Authorities have rushed firefighters to the spot to douse the flame and bring the fire under control.– NNN-PTI
