HYDERABAD, 22nd August, 2024 (WAM) -- India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh wrapped up rescue efforts on Thursday at a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant where an explosion the previous day killed 17 people and injured nearly 40, Reuters reported.
The state's worst such incident in recent years, Wednesday's blast took place at the 40-acre (16-hectare) unit of privately held Escientia Advanced Sciences in the Anakapalli district.
Nearly 40 people were injured and rescue operations had been completed, the official, Industries Secretary N. Yuvaraj, told Reuters.
"Preliminary investigation shows ... there was some vapour leak that led to chemical reactions, which caused the explosion," added Yuvaraj, who identified the solvent involved as methyl tert-butyl ether.