Tragic Toll in Andhra Pharma Fire

Death Toll Increases in Parwada Accident

The death toll from last week’s industrial accident at Synergene Active Ingredients Private Limited, a pharmaceutical unit located in Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City, Parwada, near Visakhapatnam, has tragically risen to three. The incident, which occurred on August 23, involved a flash fire that injured four workers during a chemical mixing operation in Tragic Toll in Andhra Pharma Fire.

Injuries and Fatalities

The workers involved in the incident suffered severe burns, with injuries covering nearly 60 percent of their bodies as Tragic Toll in Andhra Pharma Fire. The injured were immediately rushed to a hospital in Visakhapatnam for treatment. K. Suryanarayana, a chemist from Vizianagaram district, succumbed to his injuries on Monday morning at Indus Hospital in Visakhapatnam. His body was later shifted to King George Hospital for an autopsy.

Earlier, on August 24, Lalsingh Puri, a worker from Jharkhand, passed away due to the severity of his injuries. The following day, Roya Angira, also from Jharkhand, succumbed to his injuries. The fourth worker, Oybon Korha, also from Jharkhand, is currently undergoing treatment and is battling for his life.

Details of the Flash Fire

The flash fire that led to these fatalities occurred in the early hours of August 23. The incident took place at Unit-III of Synergene Active Ingredients Pvt Ltd while the workers were charging losartan potassium, a chemical compound, into a reactor that had been pre-charged with methanol. The sudden reaction between the chemicals caused a flash fire, leading to severe injuries among the workers of Tragic Toll in Andhra Pharma Fire.

Negligence and Lack of Safety Measures

The incident has raised serious concerns about safety measures  at the pharmaceutical unit. Andhra Pradesh Home Minister V. Anitha, who visited the injured workers in the hospital on the same day as the accident, expressed strong criticism of the management. She stated that the company was negligent in ensuring the safety of its workers. According to her, the workers were not provided with adequate safety gear, which might have prevented such a tragic outcome. The absence of proper safety precautions when handling highly inflammable chemicals is a glaring oversight that contributed to the severity of the accident in Tragic Toll in Andhra Pharma Fire.

Recent Industrial Accidents in the Region

This tragic accident occurred just two days after another devastating incident at a pharmaceutical unit in the Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone (SEZ). On August 21, a reactor blast at Escientia Advanced Sciences Private Limited caused a massive fire, claiming 17 lives and leaving 36 others injured. The back-to-back industrial accidents have highlighted the urgent need for stricter safety protocols in the region’s industrial sector.

Government’s Response and Safety Warning

In response to these tragic incidents, the state government has issued a stern warning to all industrial units to implement stringent safety measures. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who visited the accident site at Atchutapuram on August 22, emphasized the critical importance of safety in industrial operations. He stated that the management of such facilities must prioritize the safety of their workers above all else.

Naidu pointed out that since 2019, the combined Visakhapatnam district has reported 119 industrial accidents, resulting in the deaths of 120 people. This alarming statistic underscores the need for immediate action to prevent further tragedies. The government has pledged to hold companies accountable for negligence and to ensure that strict safety standards are enforced across all industrial units in the state.

Conclusion

The tragic fire at the Synergene Active Ingredients Private Limited unit is a stark reminder of the importance of safety in industrial operations. The loss of lives in this incident, coupled with the recent reactor blast at Atchutapuram, has put a spotlight on athe urgent need for better safety measures in the region’s pharmaceutical and industrial sectors. The state government’s commitment to enforcing stringent safety protocols is a step in the right direction, but it will require continuous vigilance and strict compliance from all stakeholders to prevent such tragedies in the future.

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