At least 15 people have been confirmed dead following a catastrophic explosion at a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Andhra Pradesh, southern India, on Wednesday. District Superintendent of Police M. Deepika reported that the death toll is expected to rise, with around 40 individuals injured in the blast.
The explosion occurred in the afternoon at Escientia Advanced Sciences' 40-acre manufacturing facility in Anakapalli district. The plant, which has been operational since 2019, was struck by a severe fire during lunchtime. District Collector Vijaya Krishnan indicated that the blast likely originated from a chemical reactor.
Emergency rescue operations are currently underway, with injured victims being transported to nearby hospitals. The state government has launched an inquiry into the incident to determine the cause of the explosion.
This tragic event follows a similar accident last year in Anakapalli, where a fire in a solvent reactor at Sahithi Pharma resulted in two fatalities and five injuries. Escientia Advanced Sciences has yet to issue a response regarding the explosion.
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Inputs by Agencies (Reuters)
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