Tragedy Strikes: Fire Accident at Visakhapatnam Pharma Unit

Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu will visit the injured and the site of a deadly fire at Escientia Advanced Sciences Pvt Ltd in Visakhapatnam. The accident, which killed 17 and injured 33, is suspected to have been caused by solvent leakage. Emotional scenes unfolded as relatives awaited news of their loved ones.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will meet those injured in the pharma unit fire accident in Visakhapatnam on Thursday and follow it up with a visit to the accident spot.

According to the official schedule, the Chief Minister will interact with the injured workers undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Venkojipalem in the port city around noon and also with medical teams.

Later, Naidu will visit Escientia Advanced Sciences Pvt Ltd around 1:30 pm, the pharma company where the fire accident occurred on Wednesday, leading to the death of 17 persons and injuries to 33.

According to Anakapalli district Collector Vijaya Krishnan, there was no rise in the death toll which stood at 17. ''The actual cause is yet to be ascertained,'' she said, adding that preliminary assessment pointed to solvent leakage from a pipe falling on an electric panel.

Although some reports suggested the accident occurred due to a reactor blast, officials indicated that solvent oil leakage during pumping operations led to the blaze and subsequent explosion, as per a post on X by the Deputy Chief Minister's office.

Several relatives of the affected workers waited anxiously at the company site for news. A minor girl expressed anger, calling for the removal of her father and the company, and other relatives also voiced their anguish.

Scenes of distress were evident as injured workers, many with severe injuries, were transported to hospitals after the incident at 2:15 pm on Wednesday. The company, which commenced production in April 2019, manufactures intermediate chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and is located on a 40-acre campus in the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation's SEZ at Atchutapuram.

(With inputs from agencies.)