At least 17 killed and more than 50 injured after explosion at pharma factory in India

Government orders investigation into blast at Escientia Advanced Sciences in Andhra Pradesh

Leela Devi, centre, with arms outstretched, mourns after hearing of her husband Chiranjeevi's death in the explosion at Escientia Advanced Sciences, in Andhra Pradesh. AP

At least 17 people died and more than 50 were injured in an explosion at a pharmaceutical factory in the south of India.

The incident occurred at Escientia Advanced Sciences, in the Anakapalle district of Andhra Pradesh state, on Wednesday afternoon. A 500,000-litre chemical reactor exploded at the site.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. The state’s Deputy Chief Minister Konidala Pawan Kalyan said the explosion occurred due to a leakage in the process of pumping solvent oil from one floor to another.

It sparked a blaze and caused the first floor to cave in, trapping several people.

Videos of the blaze were widely shared online and by local media.

Emergency workers removed debris form the floor that collapsed and rescued people, police said.

“Based on preliminary investigation, there seems to be a gas leak in the solvent tube. And this leak turned to vapour which eventually hit electrical panel,” M Deepika, the district’s superintendent of police, said.

“There is nobody left trapped in building and rescue operations are over.”

The state's Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha said a highly flammable solvent liquid leaked, causing formation of gas that spread from the third floor to lower floors of the factory.

But before the leak could be plugged it spilled on to an electrical panel and fire broke out leading to the blast, Ms Anitha said.

Six fire tenders were rushed to the site and authorities mobilised additional equipment for rescue work.

The factory operates in two shifts with 381 employees. At least 200 were reportedly working on Wednesday but many were out to lunch at the time of the incident.

“After the blast, the ceiling of the first floor collapsed, trapping several people under the debris,” a witness told local media.

“We saw individuals with severe burns, some completely burnt, being thrown out of the building under the impact of the explosion.”

Two people died and five were injured at another unit in Anakapalli district last year, when fire broke out in a solvent reactor.