.Officials of the Factories department said Appala Naidu and two others G. Murali Krishna and P. Suri Appa Rao had been collecting effluent samples from effluent treatment plant chambers near the CETP gate on Saturday night
Vishakhapatnam: A worker died after he inhaled toxic vapour at the Visakha Pharmacity at Parawada in Anakapalli district. The deceased has been identified as Ch. Appala Naidu (43), a contract employee, who is a native of Tanam village in Parawada mandal.Officials of the Factories department said Appala Naidu and two others G. Murali Krishna and P. Suri Appa Rao had been collecting effluent samples from effluent treatment plant chambers near the CETP gate on Saturday night.After collecting the samples from one chamber, they went to collect samples from another chamber. When they opened the lid of the next chamber, they found vapours coming out from the high total dissolved solids (HTDS) chamber. Appala Naidu collected the sample by leaning towards the chamber, thereby inhaling toxic vapours.A few minutes later, Appala Naidu collapsed on the ground. His colleagues Immediately took him to the emergency medical centre in Parawada. Later, they shifted him to the KGH in Visakhapatnam city, where the duty doctor declared that Appala Naidu had already died.Preliminary investigations revealed Appala Naidu and his two colleagues did not wear respiratory protective equipment (RPE) while collecting samples.However, leaders of the CITU have alleged that management of the Visakha Pharmacity failed to provide the RPE. They demanded stringent action against the management and ₹1 crore compensation to the victim’s family. Parawada police have registered a case and are investigating.Officials of the Factories department have issued a show-cause notice to the pharma company management.
