Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, has announced the creation of a high-level committee to investigate a recent tragic incident at the Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone (SEZ). This decision was made after the Chief Minister visited the affected pharmaceutical company to assess the situation.
During a press briefing, Chandrababu Naidu emphasized the importance of safety in industries. He pointed out that in the case of the Achyutupuram SEZ, it appeared that the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were not properly followed. The Chief Minister highlighted that safety standards were not fully implemented, which may have contributed to the incident.
Naidu noted that over the past five years, there have been 119 industrial incidents in Visakhapatnam, resulting in 120 deaths. He stressed the need for an internal investigation within all industries and insisted that those under the ‘Red Category’ must strictly adhere to safety protocols. The high-level inquiry committee will specifically investigate the incident at Escientia Pharma to determine what went wrong and identify any lapses. He assured that once the committee’s report is received, those responsible will face punishment.
Additionally, Chandrababu Naidu stated that the pharmaceutical company involved in the incident would be responsible for compensating the victims’ families and the injured. He mentioned that a committee would also be established to conduct safety audits of industries to prevent future accidents.
Earlier in the day, Chandrababu Naidu visited the families affected by the reactor explosion at the Atchutapuram SEZ pharma company. Traveling from Vijayawada to Visakhapatnam via a special flight, the Chief Minister personally met with the victims and their families at Medicover and KGH hospitals.
Naidu inquired about the medical treatments being provided to the injured and assured them that the state would cover all medical expenses, including plastic surgeries if needed. He offered words of encouragement to the victims, assuring them that the government would take care of everything necessary for their recovery.
The Chief Minister expressed deep sorrow over the incident, which claimed the lives of 17 people and left 36 others injured. Among the injured, 10 were reported to be in critical condition, while 26 sustained minor injuries.
Chandrababu Naidu ordered that the best possible medical care be provided to all victims and vowed to take steps to prevent such incidents in the future. He also announced compensation amounts of Rs 1 crore for the families of the deceased, Rs 50 lakh for those seriously injured, and Rs 25 lakh for those with minor injuries.
