The MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether)- a solvent leaked resulting in an explosion at Escientia Advanced Sciences Private Limited which is a Pharma Company claiming 17 lives and 41 injured. The pharma company is at Atchutapuram in Anakapalli of Andhra Pradesh Advanced.
On Thursday afternoon Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu reached Visakhapatnam, where he met and interacted with the injured workers admitted to the medicover hospitals. CM Naidu said he has formed a committee to investigate the matter and the committee will submit its report according to which further actions will be taken.
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When and how did the leak happen?
The explosion took place at 2:15 pm during lunchtime it was also the time of shift change. The workers tried to stop a leak of a solvent MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) but the gas was formed of MTBE on the third floor and spread to the factory’s lower floors. Before the workers could stop the gas, it spread all over the factory and came in contact with the electric panel, causing a fire to break out which led to the blast at the Pharma Company, said V. Anitha the Home Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
Pharma Company accused of neglecting safety measures.
The workers from other nearby Pharma Companies from MTBE, residents of Lalam Koduru, SEZ colony residents, leaders and workers of CITU & CPI (M), and union leaders gathered at the factory gate expressing their anger and demanding actions against the person who is responsible for the accident. The Family members of the workers working at the factory cried bitterly outside the factory and sought clarity on the number of deaths and casualties that occurred due to the explosion.
The workers of the MTBE Andhra Pradesh factory said that many accidents have already happened in the past but there were no changes have been made in the safety norms of their work.
Relief and Condolences from the Prime Minister, Ministers, and Administration
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and injured in the blast through a post on X in which he announced ex–gartia of INR 2 lakh to the next kin of the deceased and INR 50,000 to the injured from PMNRF (Prime Minister Relief Fund).
Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y.S Jag Mohan Reddy extended his condolences to the families of the workers who died in the MTBE factory explosion. Y.S Jag Mohan Reddy urged the government to provide appropriate treatment to the injured workers and to look into the matter of safety negligence of safety measures so that no such incident gets repeated in the future.
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District Collector of Visakhapatnam M.N Harendhira Prasad announced to provide ex-Garcia of INR 1 crore to the families of the deceased workers.
About the Pharma Company
Escientia Advanced Sciences Private Limited located on 40 acre campus in Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation is a Pharma Company that produces intermediate chemicals and Pharmaceutical ingredients. It started its production in April 2019 with an investment of INR 200 crore.
About the Author
Devansh Das pursuing a bachelor’s in Journalism and Mass Communication from VIPS-TC. He writes on national issues and on issues that directly or indirectly concern the interest of the public.
