A devastating explosion at a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Anakapalli district, Andhra Pradesh, has resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people, with the toll expected to rise. The blast occurred on Wednesday during lunchtime at Escientia Advanced Sciences, a privately held company that produces intermediate chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients.
The explosion, which took place in a 40-acre (16-hectare) manufacturing unit that has been operational since 2019, also left nearly 40 workers injured, many of whom suffered severe chemical burns. Rescue operations, involving six fire engines and personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), continued late into the evening as authorities struggled to control the blaze and search for survivors.
District Superintendent of Police M Deepika confirmed the current death toll and indicated that it could increase as rescue teams comb through the wreckage. “The injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals,” she said, noting that the explosion likely originated from a chemical reactor at the facility.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as harrowing. “The workers who died or were injured do the most crucial and dangerous jobs,” said L Srinivas Rao, a local politician, in an interview with The Indian Express. An officer from the Atchutapuram police station detailed the extent of the injuries, describing how victims’ skin was peeling off due to severe chemical burns. “It was horrible, heartbreaking. They were screaming before they lost consciousness,” said M Buchaiah, a witness to the aftermath.
Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy, assuring that the government would support the families of those who lost their lives. “The government will stand by the families of the workers who died,” his office said in a statement.
The state government has ordered an inquiry into the incident to determine the cause of the explosion. This marks the second fatal accident in the Anakapalli district’s pharmaceutical sector within a year, following a similar explosion last year that claimed two lives and injured five others. The recent tragedy has reignited concerns about safety standards in the region’s chemical manufacturing industry.
