Explosion at Andhra Pradesh Pharmaceutical Factory Results in 17 Dead, 36 Injured
Amaravati, 22nd August 2024: On Thursday, the chief financial officer of a pharmaceutical factory in southern India reported that an explosion during a chemical leak attempt resulted in at least 17 fatalities and 36 injuries.
The explosion occurred around noon on Wednesday at Escientia Advanced Sciences, a private company based in Andhra Pradesh, where about 400 employees produce intermediate chemicals and active ingredients for export to the United States and other Western markets.
Srinivasa Rao Korada, CFO of Escientia Group, indicated that the blast appeared to have stemmed from a solvent leak, though the exact cause of the leak remains unclear. “The workers had identified the leak and were in the process of sealing it when the explosion occurred,” Korada explained in a phone interview with Reuters.
This incident is among the most severe industrial accidents in India in recent years. It follows a fire at a pharmaceutical plant in the same Anakapalli district last year, which resulted in two deaths and five injuries.
The company is working with authorities to determine the cause of the leak. Korada noted that smoke and fire had initially hindered the investigation. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing the injured to assess whether human error was a factor.
State Industries Secretary N. Yuvaraj suggested that a vapour leak led to chemical reactions that caused the explosion, identifying the solvent involved as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), MTBE is a flammable liquid used as an additive in unleaded gasoline to improve combustion efficiency.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, a supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announced that an inquiry will be conducted into the accident and expressed hope that it would be the last of its kind. Vijaya Krishnan, the district collector, noted that the factory began operations in 2019 with an investment of 2 billion rupees ($24 million).
