Andhra Pradesh: Death toll in reactor blast at Anakapalli pharma unit rises to 17

ANAKAPALLI (Andhra Pradesh): The death toll after a reactor blast at a pharma company in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Atchutapuram in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli rose to 17 on Thursday. Anakapalli District Collector Vijaya Krishnan confirmed the deaths on Thursday.

The incident occurred after a 500-kilo-litre capacity reactor exploded at a pharma company with around 200 workers still working at the time. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. The Chief Minister is expected to visit the family of the deceased and injured on Thursday.

President Droupadi Murmu expressed anguish over the deaths and also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. “Deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in an explosion at a pharma company in Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured”, the President mentioned in a post on X.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar offered condolences on the loss of lives in the reactor blast. “Deeply pained by the loss of lives due to mishap at a factory in Anakapalle, Andhra Pradesh. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured”, Dhankhar wrote on X.

#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh | Visuals from the spot where a reactor explosion incident occurred at a company in Atchutapuram SEZ, in Anakapalle

3 people lost their lives and 17 others are injured in the incident, as per Vasamsetti Subhash, Andhra Pradesh Labour, Factories, Boilers &… pic.twitter.com/Ll6kjXFbJE

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Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences and said that he was “pained” by the loss of lives in the mishap. The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, as per the PMO.

“Pained by the loss of lives due to a mishap at a factory in Anakapalle. Condolences to those who lost their near and dear ones. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000”, the PMO mentioned in a post on X.

Taking to social media platform X, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also offered condolences and demanded a high-level investigation into the matter.

“Deeply anguished by the terrible fire tragedy in a pharmaceutical factory in Anakapalle district of Andhra Pradesh where several people have lost their lives. Our heartfelt condolences to the grieving families. The government must provide them with immediate and adequate compensation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured and we wish them a speedy recovery. We need to take more preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future and ensure justice to the victims, therefore the government must act with alacrity on the high-level probe”.

Andhra Governor Abdul Nazeer expressed anguish over the loss of lives and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. (ANI)