Seven workers die due to suffocation at oil factory in Kakinada

Kakinada: In a major industrial mishap, seven workers died of suffocation at Ambati Subbanna & Co. Edible Oils company located at G. Ragampeta village in Kakinada district’s Peddapuram mandal on Thursday.

According to Peddapuram tahsildar, the seven died between 7.30 am and 9 am while removing sludge in a boiler tank. Initially, two workers entered the tank and soon started feeling suffocated. One of them managed to come out but the other one slipped and fell into the tank. In order to rescue him, six workers got into the tank, one after the other. However, all died of suffocation. The worker who survived is undergoing treatment in a nearby hospital.

District collector Kritika Shukla ordered immediate closure of the factory after visiting the spot along with officials from factories, fire, revenue and other departments for a preliminary inquiry. They found lapses in the unit’s safety measures.

While labour minister Gummunuri Jayaram said that it was an unfortunate incident, home minister Taneti Vanitha said that the state government has announced Rs 25 lakh ex gratia to each of the bereaved family and an equal amount would be paid by the company.

Meanwhile, the district collector appointed a six-member committee headed by the joint collector, comprising deputy commissioner of labour, deputy inspector of factories, executive engineer of APPCB, district industries officer and Peddapuram RDO. The panel has been asked to submit a detailed report within three days.

The deceased have been identified as Mochchangi Krishna, Mochchangi Narsinga, Mochchangi Sagar, Kurthadu Banju Babu and Kurra Ramarao (all from Paderu in Alluri Sitaramaraju district) and Kattamuri Jagadish and Prasad from of Kattamuru village in Peddapuram mandal.

Peddapuram police have registered a case against the company management.