An explosion at a pharmaceutical plant in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, India, has left at least 17 people dead and 40 injured, authorities confirmed. 

The blast, which occurred on Wednesday,  August 21, 2024, at the Escientia Advanced Sciences manufacturing unit in the Anakapalli district, has sparked concerns about safety protocols in the region’s heavily industrialized zones.

The explosion, which happened around lunchtime, was so powerful that it caused significant damage to the facility. Most of the plant’s 380 employees were on a break, which likely prevented an even higher death toll. However, those who were in the vicinity of the blast suffered extensive chemical burns, and the aftermath was described as harrowing by first responders.

M Buchaiah, an officer from the Atchutapuram police station, provided a grim account of the scene. “It was horrible, heartbreaking. They were screaming before they lost consciousness,” Buchaiah told The Indian Express. The injured workers, some with their “skin peeling off,” were rushed to nearby hospitals, where three of them later succumbed to their injuries.

Escientia Advanced Sciences, a company that began operations in 2019, produces intermediate chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). These components are crucial in the production of various medications, often for export. The plant, located within a special economic zone in the village of Atchutapuram, spans 40 acres and operates with around-the-clock shifts.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the explosion was triggered by a chemical solvent leak. According to N Yuvaraj, the state’s Industries Secretary, the leak led to a series of chemical reactions that caused the blast. “There was some vapor leak that led to chemical reactions, which caused the explosion,” Yuvaraj reported.

In the immediate aftermath, six fire engines were dispatched to the scene to contain the blaze, and the National Disaster Response Force was also called in to assist with rescue efforts. The fire was eventually brought under control, but the damage was already done. The site is now the focus of a government-led inquiry to determine the precise cause of the incident and whether human error played a role.

L Srinivas Rao, a local politician, pointed out the dangerous nature of the work done by those killed or injured in the explosion. “The workers who died or were injured do the most crucial and dangerous jobs,” Rao said in a statement to The Indian Express. This sentiment echoes a broader concern about the safety of industrial workers in India, where regulatory oversight is often criticized as being lax.

The blast has once again drawn attention to the safety standards in India’s industrial sector. Fires and explosions at factories and plants are not uncommon in the country, often attributed to poor enforcement of safety regulations. The Anakapalli district, where this latest incident occurred, has seen similar tragedies in recent years. Last year, two workers were killed, and five others were injured in a similar accident at another pharmaceutical factory in the same district.

The Escientia plant explosion is one of the worst industrial accidents in recent memory in Andhra Pradesh. The company, which has not yet commented on the incident, is now under intense scrutiny as the state government has ordered a thorough investigation. Officials are currently reviewing security camera footage and questioning the injured workers to piece together the events that led to the disaster.

Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu expressed his grief over the loss of lives, calling for strict action against those responsible. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also offered his condolences to the families of the victims via a post on social media platform X.

As the investigation continues, the families of those killed and injured are left to grapple with the devastating consequences of the explosion. The state government has announced ex-gratia payments of ₹1 crore (approximately $120,000) for the families of the deceased, ₹50 lakhs (approximately $60,000) for those severely injured, and ₹25 lakhs (approximately $30,000) for those with moderate injuries. The financial compensation, while significant, does little to mitigate the pain and loss experienced by the affected families.