Solvent leak suspected to have caused explosion at Andhra Pharma factory, injured out of danger, Rs. 1 crore voluntary compensation announced

VCEs can have devastating effects, causing damage to equipment and buildings and injuring or killing people in the surrounding area. They can also cause secondary fires and explosions.

The explosion was so powerful that it tore through the concrete roof of the building and caused the walls to collapse. The victims' body parts flew through the air, some of them being thrown into the treetops.

Injured person out of danger

Meanwhile, the government said that the injured are out of danger. Officials said that those injured in the industrial accident in Atchutapuram are safe and there are no fears of further deaths.

Of the 17 dead, 12 bodies have been handed over to family members and five others are in hospital. A private hospital in Visakhapatnam is currently treating around 41 people.

Rs A Cr Ex Gratia

The Andhra Pradesh government has announced an ex-gratia payment of crores of rupees to the families of those who lost their lives in the blast at a pharmaceutical factory in Anakapalli on Wednesday.

Visakhapatnam District Collector MN Harendhira Prasad visited King George Hospital, met the family members of the victims and announced the ex-gratia payment. The post-mortem of the deceased is currently underway at King George Hospital in Vizag.

“The government has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 crore to the families of all the deceased. I have also conveyed this to the families. After the investigation, efforts are now on to hand over the bodies to the families and provide the best possible treatment to the injured,” said Collector Harendhira Prasad.

On Thursday morning, there was chaos at the KG Hospital for some time because the relatives of the deceased demanded that the authorities give them accurate information about their loved ones.

They claimed that government officials were acting irresponsibly and were not providing them with sufficient information. The intervention of the District Collector calmed them down.

Lawsuit filed against Escientia

The government of Andhra Pradesh was not satisfied with the response of the sponsors of Escientia Advanced Sciences, where the accident occurred.

State Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said that strict action would be taken in the incident. Rambilli police have filed a complaint against Escientia Advanced Sciences under sections BNS 106 (1), 125 (b) and 125 (a).

Escientia, based in South Windsor, Connecticut, is a global contract research, development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that helps pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies discover, develop and bring small molecule drugs to market.

Escientia was founded in the US in 2007 by Telugu NRI Dr. Yadagiri Pendri 15 years ago. The company's co-founder and president, Kiran Pendri, leads Escientia's efforts to expand its capabilities and capacities.

The company has two research and development centers in Connecticut (USA) and Hyderabad and a GMP compliant commercial manufacturing facility in Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone in Anakapalli district.

The Anakapalli site manufactures intermediate chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Production began in April 2019 with an investment of Rs 200 crore.

The campus is located on a 40-acre site in APIIC Multi-Product SEZ, Atchutapuram Cluster, Anakapalli District.

List of deceased

Neelapu Rami Reddy (49), Deputy Managing Director/Assistant Director, Kotha Venkojipalem, Visakhapatnam

Hansa Prashanth (34), Senior Officer, Ponduru, Srikakulam District

Mahanti Narayana Rao (34), Assistant Manager/Team Leader, Arthamuru, Garividi, Vizianagaram District

Kopparti Ganesh Kumar (33), Officer, Juvvala Doddi, Bikkavolu, East Godavari District

Chalapalli Hari (22), aspiring engineer, Ramannayyapeta, Kakinada

Paidi Rajasekhar (23), Trainee Process Engineer, Vanjangi, Amudalavalasa Mandal, Srikakulam District

Marisetti Satesh (31), Senior Officer, Pasarlapudi, East Godavari District

Mondina Nagababu (36), Assistant Manager, Samarlakota

Nageswara Ramachandra Rao (47), Assistant Manager/Team Leader, Kurmannapalem, Visakhapatnam

Ellabilli Chinnarao (27), painter, Achutapuram, Anakapalli district

Javvadi Parthasarathi (27), mechanic, Parvathipuram

Pudi Mohan Durga Prasad, Domestic Science Boy, Achutapuram, Anakapalli District

J. Chiranjeevi (25)

J. Anandarao (35)

M. Suresh, Ashwarao Pet, Khammam