Date | August 21, 2024 |
---|---|
Time | 2:15 p.m. (IST) |
Location | Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation campus, Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India |
Cause | Reported electrical fire |
Deaths | 17+ |
Non-fatal injuries | 41+ |
An explosion at an Escientia Advanced Sciences pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in the Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone in the Anakapalli neighborhood of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on 21 August 2024 killed at least 17 people. Fifty more were injured. [1] [2] [3]
Escientia is an Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing company that constructs active pharmaceutical ingredients as well as intermediary products. The 40-acre facility unit was constructed on the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation campus with a ₹200 crore budget and began production in April 2019. [1]
Around 400 workers made up of two shifts were working in the factory at the time of the explosion. [1] [3]
At around 2:15 p.m. IST on 21 August 2024, an explosion believed to be caused by an electrical fire occurred at the facility. Due to the explosion occurring at lunchtime, a much higher casualty number was averted. [1] [2] At least 17 people were killed in the explosion and resulting fire, while 41 more suffered injuries, of which several were described as "severe chemical burns". [1] [4]
Several fire engines were dispatched to put out the resulting fires, and 13 people trapped inside the facility were rescued. [1] Thick smoke surrounding the facility impeded rescue and fire extinguishing operations. [4]
A gas explosion is the ignition of a mixture of air and flammable gas, typically from a gas leak. In household accidents, the principal explosive gases are those used for heating or cooking purposes such as natural gas, methane, propane, butane. In industrial explosions many other gases, like hydrogen, as well as evaporated (gaseous) gasoline or ethanol play an important role. Industrial gas explosions can be prevented with the use of intrinsic safety barriers to prevent ignition, or use of alternative energy.
Genome Valley is an Indian high-technology business district spread across 2,000-acre (8.1 km2)/(3.1 sq mi) in Hyderabad, India. It is located across the suburbs, Turakapally, Shamirpet, Medchal, Uppal, Patancheru, Jeedimetla, Gachibowli and Keesara. The Genome Valley has developed as a cluster for Biomedical research, training and manufacturing. Genome Valley is now into its Phase III, which is about 11 kms from the Phase I and II with the total area approximately 2,000-acre (8.1 km2).
The West Pharmaceutical Plant explosion was an industrial disaster that occurred on January 29, 2003 at the West Pharmaceutical Plant in Kinston, North Carolina, United States. Six people were killed and thirty-six people were injured when a large explosion ripped through the facility. Two firefighters were injured in the subsequent blaze. The disaster occurred twelve years and 170 miles (270 km) from the 1991 Hamlet chicken processing plant fire, North Carolina's second-worst industrial disaster.
Miyapur, located 22.5 kilometres (14.0 mi) northwest of Hyderabad in India, is part of Greater Hyderabad and administered by GHMC and developed by HMDA. Transportation is managed by UMTA.
LG Chem Ltd., often referred to as LG Chemical, is the largest Korean chemical company and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It was the 9th largest chemical company in the world by sales in 2021. It was first established as the Lucky Chemical Industrial Corporation, which manufactured cosmetics. It is now solely a business-to-business company.
On 7 February 2008, fourteen people were killed and thirty-six injured during a dust explosion at a refinery owned by Imperial Sugar in Port Wentworth, Georgia, United States. Dust explosions had been an issue of concern among U.S. authorities since three fatal accidents in 2003, with efforts made to improve safety and reduce the risk of reoccurrence.
On April 17, 2013, an ammonium nitrate explosion occurred at the West Fertilizer Company storage and distribution facility in West, Texas, United States, while emergency services personnel were responding to a fire at the facility. Fifteen people were killed, more than 160 were injured, and more than 150 buildings were damaged or destroyed. Investigators confirmed that ammonium nitrate was the material that exploded. On May 11, 2016, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives stated that the fire had been deliberately set. That finding has been disputed.
Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone(AMTZ) is the medical technology park with Common Manufacturing Facilities & Common Scientific Facilities located in Nadupuru village area of Visakhapatnam, adjacent to the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. The AMTZ is spread over an area of 270 acres and it has over 10 manufacturing units.
Napp Pharmaceuticals Limited is a private pharmaceutical company in Cambridge, United Kingdom that was founded in 1923 and bought by the Sackler family in 1966. Headquartered together with the related Napp Research Centre in the Cambridge Science Park since the 1980s, it is a sister company of Purdue Pharma and Mundipharma, all of which are owned by the descendants of Mortimer and Raymond Sackler.
On 21 March 2019, a major explosion occurred at a chemical plant in Chenjiagang Chemical Industry Park, Chenjiagang, Xiangshui County, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China. According to reports published on 25 March, 78 people were killed and 617 injured.
GosNII «Kristall» OJSC is a chemical factory in Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia. It manufactures explosives and non-standard chemical equipment.
Natco Pharma is an Indian multinational pharmaceutical company based in Hyderabad. The company manufactures finished dosage formulations active pharmaceutical ingredients and Agro chemical products. It is a major producer of branded oncology medicines cardiology, diabetology and other pharma specialty drugs. The company specialises in producing complex medicines at affordable prices. NATCO is a science driven company and focuses on limited competition molecules in the US.
On 4 November 2020, a blast at a chemical factory in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India caused deaths of 12 people and injuries to nine others.
On 4 June 2022, a major explosion and fire occurred at a chemical plant in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, India. At least 13 people were killed and 20 others injured.
The following is a list of events for the year 2024 in India.
On 23 May 2024, a fire broke out following the explosion of four boilers at a chemical factory in Dombivili, a suburb of Thane. Ten people were killed and more than 64 were injured.
On 17 February 2024, a fire broke out following an explosion at a firecracker factory in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu. Ten people were killed and more than seven were injured. On 29 June 2024, another explosion at a different fire cracker unit near Sattur, resulted in four deaths and one injury.