Explosion at India Pharma Plant Kills 17, Injures 40
Rescue operations concluded on Thursday at a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in India’s southern state of Andhra Pradesh, where an explosion the day before claimed 17 lives.
The blast at Escientia Advanced Sciences, a privately-owned facility in the Anakapalli district, is considered the state’s deadliest industrial accident in recent years.
Nearly 40 people sustained injuries, with many requiring immediate medical attention.
According to N. Yuvaraj, the state industries secretary, the rescue efforts have been completed, though the investigation into the cause of the explosion is ongoing.
Officials suspect that a chemical reactor explosion, possibly triggered by a vapor leak, was the cause of the tragedy. The solvent involved, identified as methyl tert-butyl ether, may have reacted violently after the leak, leading to the blast.
Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing injured workers to determine whether human error played a role. As of Thursday, Escientia Advanced Sciences has not released an official statement regarding the incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the victims’ families in a post on X, while the local government continues to assess safety measures at similar facilities across the state.
This incident follows a fire at another pharmaceutical plant in the same district last year, which resulted in two deaths and five injuries at a Sahithi Pharma unit.
