Industrial mishaps in North Andhra leave residents living in constant fear

Visakhapatnam: With the terrifying experience of the LG Polymers gas leak and major accidents at HPCL Visakh Refinery and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) still fresh in memory, the Wednesday’s accident at a pharma unit in Atchutapuram has further compounded fears for the future among residents in the nearby areas of Atchutapuram, Parawada, Gajuwaka, Pydibhimavaram, and Ranasthalam in North Andhra, which are home to numerous pharmaceutical and hazardous industrial units.

These areas have several bulk drugs, API units and hazardous industrial units. Fear after the massive reactor blast at Escientia Advanced Science Pvt. Ltd located at Andhra Pradesh Special Economic Zone at Atchutapuram in Anakapalle district is palpable as residents pour out their woes to visiting media persons and political leaders, saying life has become uncertain for them following a spate of accidents in their neighbourhood. .

Possibility of more accidents is haunting them as there is no let-up in industrial accidents. Over 60 lives have been lost over the past one decade in accidents that occurred at pharma units in the region. The Visakhapatnam region has over 100 pharmaceutical units with an estimated revenue of over Rs 30,000 crore. Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City at Parawada houses a large number of units at one location.

Heart-rending scenes were seen at the accident spot at Atchutapuram with the relatives of the victims crying inconsolably. Relatives of Harika, a trainee engineer, said she returned to work on Wednesday after going to Kakinada to tie rakhi to her brother. She refused to take leave and spend some time with her family. “Her life could have been saved had she applied for a day’s casual leave,” her family members said.

The relatives of Prasad from Anakapalle were seen crying inconsolably. “I don’t want to live anymore without my son alive as I have already lost my husband,” his aging mother said. The relatives of the workers, who lost their lives or got burn injuries were seen blaming the management for not telling them with the factual situation even after several hours of the explosion.

“Visakhapatnam has become a death trap for several poor workers in the hazardous industries. Every time an accident occurs, it has become a ritual for the powers-that-be to say ordering a safety audit and a high-level inquiry. After the reports submitted by the probe teams are buried in the cold storage,” CITU State general secretary Ch Narsinga Rao told Bizz Buzz.

According to preliminary reports, the incident occurred due to leakage of vapour solvents that were getting transmitted from one floor to another at its 40-acre campus.

After a late evening visit, Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, who flew from Vijayawada to visit the accident spot, expressed her disappointment with the management, “They did not have the courtesy to respond to my telephonic calls,” she said.

Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan, who is holding the portfolio of pollution control, said there seems to be a communication gap in the management as the company has two owners. He said they will take action if the management is found guilty for its negligence.

Undivided Visakhapatnam and its neighbourhood has turned into a huge cluster for bulk drugs and APIs during undivided Andhra Pradesh after Jeedimetla in Hyderabad turned into heavily polluted bulk drug hubs of India. Hyderabad is considered the bulk drug capital of India as it accounts for 40 per cent of India’s total production.