A major fire broke out in Visakha Solvents’ plant in Pharma City, Parwada, Visakhapatnam.

According to police, a series of blasts got triggered off when samples were being collected from a reactor around 11 pm on Monday resulting in a huge fire.

There were four workers at the site at the time of the accident and they ran to safety. One employee, however, suffered burn injuries and has been shifted to a private hospital. 

About a half a dozen fire-engines were pressed into service and the situation was brought under control by the early hours on Tuesday.

There was panic in the localities near the blast site as the explosions could be heard in a radius of two kilometres. 

In a statement, AP Minister for Industries Gautam Reddy said major casualties were averted as there were only four employees at the time of the mishap. 

He directed the officials to take all necessary measures to bring the situation under control and said there was no need for panic. 

This is the third mishap in the port city in the last couple of months after a styrene gas leak in LG Polymers India Pvt Ltd (LGPI) and another mishap in Sainor Life Sciences. 

While the LGPI accident claimed 12 lives, the Sainor mishap left two dead. The panel on the LGPI mishap hads submitted its report only a week ago and called for greater caution and coordination.

 

 

 

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