Sat Dec 07 00:32:14 UTC 2024: **Visakhapatnam Pharma Company’s Negligence Leads to Another Accident, One Dead**
VISAKHAPATNAM, November 28, 2024 – A toxic gas leak at Thakur Pharma in Parawada, Visakhapatnam district, has resulted in one death and nine injuries, highlighting a pattern of recurring accidents in the region’s pharmaceutical industry.
This latest incident follows a series of accidents in the past few months, including a reactor explosion at Metro Company and an incident at Synergies Pharma that claimed four lives. In August, a massive fire at Essensia Pharma in Achutapuram SEZ resulted in 17 fatalities, the largest such incident in the history of the pharma industry.
Authorities are criticized for issuing only perfunctory notices and temporarily halting production at the affected companies, only to reinstate permits shortly after. Investigations are routinely launched, but their findings are seldom made public, leading to concerns that meaningful preventative measures are not being implemented.
Over the past six years, 54 accidents have been reported at the 118 pharma companies in Anakapalli district, resulting in 62 deaths and 92 injuries. The actual number is believed to be far higher, as many incidents likely go unreported.
The lack of thorough inspections, coupled with the government’s provision of land and resources to these companies without sufficient emphasis on worker safety, is blamed for the continued accidents. The district collector and SP visited the injured workers in the hospital, assuring them of the best medical care and promising to discuss compensation with the company for the deceased worker’s family. The investigation reports from previous accidents remain undisclosed. The incident underscores the urgent need for stronger safety regulations and oversight within the Visakhapatnam pharmaceutical industry.
First Piper 