A suspected solvent leakage may have triggered the devastating fire at a pharmaceutical unit in Anakapalli district, Andhra Pradesh, that claimed 17 lives, according to a senior official. District Collector Vijaya Krishnan confirmed that the death toll remains at 17 following the accident on Wednesday.
"The actual cause is yet to be ascertained," she stated noting that a preliminary assessment suggests the fire was likely caused by a solvent leak from a pipe that came into contact with an electric panel.
Although initial reports indicated a reactor explosion, officials clarified that the accident may have occurred when solvent oil, being pumped from one floor to another, leaked and ignited, leading to a large explosion. This information was shared by the Office of the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Konidala Pawan Kalyan, via a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is scheduled to visit the injured workers receiving treatment at a private hospital in Venkojipalem, Visakhapatnam, before inspecting the accident site at Escientia Advanced Sciences Pvt Ltd. The fire at this pharma company, which specializes in intermediate chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), not only resulted in the tragic loss of 17 lives but also left 33 others injured.
A minor girl, tearfully pleading for her father's return, expressed her anguish, demanding the company's closure. Meanwhile, a sister of one victim voiced frustration over not being shown her brother's whereabouts, and an elderly woman tearfully demanded the return of her son-in-law.
The incident, which occurred around 2:15 PM on Wednesday, saw injured workers, many with severe burns and bloodied bodies, being rushed to hospitals in ambulances. Escientia Advanced Sciences Pvt Ltd, which began operations in April 2019 with an investment of Rs 200 crore, is located within a 40-acre campus at the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation's multi-product SEZ in the Atchutapuram cluster.