AP shuts down chemical unit for fatal accident in Eluru

Eluru/Visakhapatnam The State Government has put a seal on a chemical factory at Akkireddypalem village in Musunuru mandal in Eluru district following a reactor blast killing six persons and injuring many on Wednesday night.

APPCB Chairman A.K. Parida told Bizz Buzz that Porus Laboratories Pvt. Ltd said the closure notice was issued after reviewing the situation on Thursday evening. The accident occurred at the bulk drug manufacturing industry following an explosion of a reactor while manufacturing 4-Nitro -N-methylphthalimide, due to alleged failure to implement SOPS. The accident took six lives leaving many injured and also caused environmental damage in the form of emissions during the accident and hazardous waste generation. Hence , the APPCB has issued closure orders on Thursday evening along with disconnection of power, a release issued by the Chief Minister's Office, stated.

Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed grave concern over the incident and directed the authorities to take stringent action against the officials responsible for the incident. After visiting the accident spot, Home Minister Tanethi Vanita said they had ordered a high-level probe into the accident. The government announced ex gratia of Rs.25 lakh to the kin of those who were killed in the accident, Rs.5 lakh for serious injuries and Rs.2 lakh for those who sustained minor injuries.

Meanwhile, the pollution sufferers in the vicinity have sought relocation of the plant. Opposition parties including TDP, CPI and CPI (M) and Jana Sena sought an ex gratia of Rs.1 crore to the kin of those killed in the explosion and action against all those responsible for neglecting safety guidelines. They also demanded relocation of the plant.