Thu Jul 03 02:55:31 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
A CITU State general secretary, Ch. Narasinga Rao, has publicly criticized the lack of safety measures and regulatory oversight in pharma companies following a deadly reactor blast near Hyderabad that killed 40. He points to past accidents, including the LG Polymers gas leak and incidents in Anakapalli, highlighting management negligence, the prioritization of “Ease of Doing Business” over safety inspections, and the use of outdated equipment as major contributing factors. He calls for stricter enforcement of regulations, the use of AI to prevent accidents, the establishment of super-specialty hospitals with burns units near pharma industries, and an end to the practice of unskilled labor in hazardous areas.
**News Article:**
**Hyderabad Pharma Blast Sparks Outrage: Union Leader Blames Negligence, Lack of Oversight**
**Visakhapatnam, July 3, 2025** – A deadly reactor explosion at a pharma company near Hyderabad, claiming the lives of 40 individuals, has ignited a firestorm of criticism over safety standards and regulatory oversight in the pharmaceutical industry. Ch. Narasinga Rao, State General Secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), delivered a scathing indictment of factory managements and government agencies, accusing them of prioritizing profit over worker safety.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Mr. Rao cited a string of recent incidents, including the Escientia Pharma accident in Atchutapuram last year and numerous fatalities in Anakapalli district, painting a grim picture of unsafe working conditions. He directly implicated management negligence, specifically pointing to the use of outdated equipment and the reuse of recovered solvents as primary causes of reactor blasts.
“These are not isolated incidents,” Mr. Rao asserted. “They are the direct result of a system that prioritizes ‘Ease of Doing Business’ over the lives and well-being of workers.” He criticized the relaxation of mandatory inspections, even for pharma companies categorized as high-risk, and alleged that inspections only occur after approval from Delhi, even when laws have been reported to be violated.
Rao questioned why AI could not be used to prevent industrial accidents and called out the central and state governments for failing to hold negligent companies accountable, even rewarding them with new projects. “LG Polymers was given the red carpet to set up its plant in Sri City of Tirupati district,” he stated, despite their involvement in a prior incident that claimed 15 lives.
The CITU leader demanded immediate action, including the establishment of super-specialty hospitals with burns units near pharma industries, stricter enforcement of safety regulations, and a ban on the use of unskilled labor in hazardous areas. He also expressed dismay over the closure of the burns unit at Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP).
The tragedy has amplified calls for greater accountability and a renewed focus on worker safety within India’s rapidly expanding pharmaceutical sector. The incident is likely to fuel further debate on balancing economic growth with the protection of human lives.
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