Three dead in blast at Vision Drugs Private Limited in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district

Exact reasons for the accident are being ascertained, says District Fire Officer; Collector blames it on lack of safety measures

Three persons, who included a Deputy Manager, died on the spot in a blast at the Vision Drugs Private Limited, at Pangidi village under Devarapalli police station limits in East Godavari district on Tuesday afternoon.

The deceased were identified as Deputy Manager Mahidhar Musalayya (35), shift in-charge Y. Ratnababu, and operator A.V.V. Satyanarayana, said District Fire Officer Martin Luther King. All of them belonged to East Godavari district.

“It is suspected that the blast occurred when the staff attempted to rectify a technical problem in the pipeline chamber. The exact reasons are being ascertained,” Mr. Martin Luther King told The Hindu.

The pipeline conveys a liquid containing ethanol and cool water to the production facility.

“Three persons died on the spot. The dead bodies have been sent to the Kovvur government hospital for a post mortem examination,” said in-charge Superintendent of Police Ch. Sudheer Kumar Reddy.

The Factories and Fire departments are investigating the case.

Meanwhile, East Godavari Collector K. Madhavilatha, in a release, said the State government announced ₹20 lakh ex gratia to the next of kin of the three persons who were killed in a blast.