Five workers were killed and more than ten others injured in a boiler explosion at a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit in the Sri City special economic zone in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday morning, in one of the deadliest industrial accidents in the region this year.
Explosion during morning shift
The blast occurred around 8 a.m. at the formulations manufacturing facility of TIL Healthcare in Satyavedu mandal of Tirupati district, while workers were on the morning shift. The force of the explosion triggered a fire at the plant, and emergency teams rushed to the spot.
Two workers died at the scene, while three others succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment, taking the toll to five, Tirupati Superintendent of Police L. Subbarayudu confirmed. Initial reports from the site had put the death toll at four, but officials revised the figure after the injured were assessed.
More than ten injured workers were admitted to a hospital inside the Sri City premises. Some of the critically wounded were reportedly moved to Chennai for advanced treatment.
Cause yet to be established
The exact cause of the boiler explosion is not yet known, and an investigation is expected to establish how the accident happened. The company has not issued a public statement so far on what led to the blast.
The tragedy drew condolences from across the political spectrum. MP Maddila Gurumoorthi and Andhra Pradesh ministers Nara Lokesh and Home Minister V. Anitha expressed grief over the deaths and assured that the injured would receive proper medical care and that affected families would be supported.
Sources: The Hindu: Five workers dead, over 10 injured in a boiler explosion at a Sri City SEZ facility; NDTV: 5 Killed, 10 Injured In Boiler Explosion At Pharma Firm In Andhra; The News Minute: Andhra: Five killed, 10 injured in boiler blast at pharma unit in Tirupati's Sri City
Explosion during morning shift
The blast occurred around 8 a.m. at the formulations manufacturing facility of TIL Healthcare in Satyavedu mandal of Tirupati district, while workers were on the morning shift. The force of the explosion triggered a fire at the plant, and emergency teams rushed to the spot.
Two workers died at the scene, while three others succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment, taking the toll to five, Tirupati Superintendent of Police L. Subbarayudu confirmed. Initial reports from the site had put the death toll at four, but officials revised the figure after the injured were assessed.
More than ten injured workers were admitted to a hospital inside the Sri City premises. Some of the critically wounded were reportedly moved to Chennai for advanced treatment.
Cause yet to be established
The exact cause of the boiler explosion is not yet known, and an investigation is expected to establish how the accident happened. The company has not issued a public statement so far on what led to the blast.
The tragedy drew condolences from across the political spectrum. MP Maddila Gurumoorthi and Andhra Pradesh ministers Nara Lokesh and Home Minister V. Anitha expressed grief over the deaths and assured that the injured would receive proper medical care and that affected families would be supported.
Sources: The Hindu: Five workers dead, over 10 injured in a boiler explosion at a Sri City SEZ facility; NDTV: 5 Killed, 10 Injured In Boiler Explosion At Pharma Firm In Andhra; The News Minute: Andhra: Five killed, 10 injured in boiler blast at pharma unit in Tirupati's Sri City
