Andhra Pradesh Explosion: In a tragic incident in Andhra Pradesh's Anakapalle district on Wednesday, sixteen workers were killed and fifty others were injured after a reactor exploded in a pharmaceutical company. The explosion reportedly happened during the lunch break at Escientia in the Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone near Visakhapatnam. According to news agency IANS, a huge fire broke out following the explosion in the company premises. There was panic among workers, who ran out for safety. A dozen fire tenders rushed to the spot to douse the fire. 

Earlier, it was reported that seven people had died in the incident. However, the toll later rose sharply as the bodies of at least seven workers were found under rubble.

Andhra Pradesh Explosion: Here Are Top Updates

- Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has ordered a high-level inquiry into the Atchutapuram Pharma Company accident. He will also visit Achyutapuram in Anakapalli district on Thursday to meet the families of the deceased and those injured in the pharma company accident. He will also inspect the accident site.

- According to the news agency IANS, nine of the deceased have been identified as plant AGM V. Satyanarayana, lab head Rami Reddy, chemist Harika, Parthasarthi, Y. Chinna Rao, P. Rajasekhar, Mohan, Ganesh, H. Prashanth, and M. Narayan Rao. Personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire services personnel, and police rescued the workers trapped on the third floor of the building. 

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- The injured were shifted soon to various hospitals in Anakapalle and Visakhapatnam. Officials said the death toll may go up as the condition of some of the injured was critical.

- At the time the explosion took place, about 387 people were present in the company. Such was the impact of the explosion that the bodies of the victims were blown to pieces. 

- According to news agency IANS, the slab of the first floor of the building also collapsed, trapping many workers under the rubble. The entire area was filled with thick smoke, hampering rescue operations.

- The explosion caused panic among people in the nearby villages.

- Employees gathered outside the company, demanding compensation for the victims, and punishment for the officials for their negligence. Angry workers were seen trying to stop ambulances carrying the bodies.

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- According to IANS, one of the workers alleged that adequate safety precautions were not taken, which resulted in the disaster.  He said that they had long been demanding the conduct of a safety audit at SEZ and alleged that the fire services department, inspector of factories, and Pollution Control Board failed to conduct the audit.

- The YSRCP chief has urged the government to ensure that the injured receive the best possible medical treatment in hospitals. He also called upon the authorities to take immediate steps to prevent such incidents in the future. He demanded that the state government provide adequate support to the families of the deceased.