KAKINADA: A probe has been ordered into chemical reactor blast at the pharmaceutical company in Autonagar area of Sarpavaram near Kakinada. Two employees died and another four were injured in the blast on Thursday.
The Factories Department had previously issued a show-cause notice to the company over safety measures while operating the reactors. Deputy chief inspector of factories V. Suresh said the industry did not meet all the requirements of plant safety.
According to sources, as supervisors were changing their shift, they could not notice the increase in temperature of the reactor, leading to the blast.
Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board officials also inspected the plant. Board executive engineer A. Rama Rao Naidu said the area in a 50-metre radius of the factory is polluted.
Meanwhile, relatives of the deceased led by Jana Sena leader Chintakayala Bunny blocked traffic on Kakinada-Samalkot road near Madhavapatnam village for about three hours. The agitators demanded Rs. 1 crore compensation for families of the two deceased.
Agriculture minister Kurasala Kannababu, Mummidivaram MLA P. Satish, Peddapuram MLA Nimmakayala China Rajappa and others held discussions with the factory management. Subsequently, the management agreed to give Rs. 40 lakh to each family while the government will pay a compensation of Rs.10 lakh. A family member of each family will be given a job. AITUC, CITUC leaders, apart from Jana Sena leader Pantam Nanji were present.
