ANAKAPALLI, Andhra Pradesh, India, 22nd August, 2024 (WAM) -- Southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh announced ₹10 million (US$119,136/ AED437,575) each to the families of 17 workers who were killed in an explosion on Wednesday at a pharma factory in Anakapalli in the state, Asian News International (ANI) reported.
Calling the incident "unfortunate," the state's Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Thursday, “We have formed a committee to go through all the lapses and will provide us with the report. We are working on how to improve our systems.” He added that ₹5 million and ₹2.5 million would be given to those who sustained serious injuries and minor injuries respectively.
“I have to promote investment in a big way. That is where I am talking about the speed of doing business. While doing that I have to protect people, safety is important. We will take checks and balances. All precautionary measures will be taken,” Naidu explained.
Earlier today, he met the people who got injured in the incident in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Atchutapuram in Andhra Pradesh's Anakapalli.
Earlier in the day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹200,000 to the next of kin of the deceased. "Pained by the loss of lives due to a mishap at a factory in Anakapalle. Condolences to those who lost their near and dear ones. May the injured recover soon," the Prime Minister's office mentioned in a post on X.
Expressing grief over the incident, Indian President Droupadi Murmu expressed condolences to the bereaved families. "Deeply anguished to know about the loss of lives in an explosion at a pharma company in Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," President Murmu posted on X.
The incident happened after a 500-kilo-litre capacitor reactor exploded at a pharma company with around 200 workers still working at the time.