Fire in Andhra pharma unit kills 17 persons, 41 sustain injuries
Atchutapuram (Andhra Pradesh): A fire at a pharmaceutical unit in Anakapalli district on Wednesday claimed 17 lives and left 41 others injured. The situation could have been much worse had it not been for the lunch break, which meant fewer workers were present in the plant when the fire broke out.
The incident took place at the Escientia Advanced Science Pvt Ltd facility in the SEZ at Atchutapuram around 2:15 pm. The company, which began producing intermediate chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in April 2019 with an investment of Rs 200 crore, saw its operations ravaged by the fire.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu instructed officials to use air ambulances if necessary to transfer the injured to better-equipped hospitals. Naidu, who plans to visit the accident site on Thursday, emphasised the need for immediate medical attention and directed the health secretary to assess the situation on the ground.
The Chief Minister has also ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident and vowed to take strict action against the company’s management if negligence is found to be the cause of the tragedy. He remained in close contact with Anakapalli district collector Vijaya Krishnan, ensuring that all necessary measures were being taken for those affected.
According to the district collector, the factory operates with 381 employees across two shifts, and the fire occurred during a time when the staff presence was minimal. Preliminary reports suggest that an electrical fault may have triggered the blaze.
The injured workers have been transported to various hospitals in Anakapalli and Atchutapuram, with the Fire Department deploying six fire tenders to the scene. Thirteen individuals trapped inside the unit were successfully rescued using ladder vehicles.
Chief Minister Naidu expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and assured the government’s support to the families of the deceased. However, the relatives of those who perished have voiced concerns over the lack of communication from authorities regarding the status of their affected kin.
The pharmaceutical unit is situated on a 40-acre campus within the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation’s (APIIC) multi-product special economic zone (SEZ) at Atchutapuram.
