A devastating explosion at a pharmaceutical plant in the Achutapuram Special Economic Zone claimed the lives of at least 17 people and left 41 others injured on Monday. The incident occurred at the Escientia Company, a pharma firm specializing in intermediate chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients.
The explosion took place around 2:15 pm during lunchtime, preventing what could have been an even greater tragedy, as most of the 380 employees who work in two shifts were not in the immediate vicinity. Despite initial fears of a reactor blast, district officials suspect the explosion was caused by an electricity-related fire.
Thick smoke was seen billowing from the plant, engulfing surrounding villages, as rescue operations commenced. Six fire engines were dispatched to control the flames, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was called in to assist in the rescue efforts. Thirteen people who were trapped inside the facility have since been rescued, according to the District Collector.
The injured have been transported to NTR Hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is closely monitoring the situation and has ordered an inquiry to determine the cause of the explosion and assign responsibility. The Chief Minister is scheduled to visit the site tomorrow to assess the situation firsthand.
Escientia’s plant, which began production in April 2019 with an investment of ₹200 crore, is located on a 40-acre campus managed by the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation. The incident has raised concerns about industrial safety and the need for stringent measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.