https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Atchutapuram_pharmaceutical_factory_explosionAtchutapuram pharmaceutical factory explosion - Revision history2026-07-30T18:52:48ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Atchutapuram_pharmaceutical_factory_explosion&diff=488175&oldid=prevPorterStowell75 at 01:14, 11 April 20262026-04-11T01:14:34Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|2024 industrial disaster in Southern India}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}<br />
{{Infobox disaster<br />
| date = {{start date|2024|08|21}}<br />
| time = 2:15 p.m.<br />
| timezone = [[India Standard Time|IST]]<br />
| Location = Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation campus, [[Anakapalli]], [[Visakhapatnam]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]<br />
| cause = Reported electrical fire<br />
| reported deaths = 18+<br />
| reported injuries = 41+<br />
}}<br />
An explosion at an Escientia Advanced Sciences [[Pharmaceutical manufacturing|pharmaceutical manufacturing facility]] in the [[Atchutapuram]] [[Special economic zone|Special Economic Zone]] in the [[Anakapalli district]] near [[Visakhapatnam]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]] on 21 August 2024 killed at least 18 people. Fifty more were injured.<ref name="ndtv">{{Cite web |title=17 Dead, Several Injured In Explosion At Andhra Pradesh Pharma Company |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/18-injured-in-explosion-at-andhra-pradesh-pharma-company-6385152 |access-date=21 August 2024 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref name="reuters">{{Cite news |last=Sadam |first=Rishika |date=21 August 2024 |title=Blast at Indian pharma factory kills 15 and injures 40, official says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/blast-indian-pharmaceuticals-plant-kills-7-injures-30-official-says-2024-08-21/ |access-date=21 August 2024 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref name="indiatimes">{{Cite news |date=22 August 2024 |title=17 dead in Andhra Pradesh factory blast; toll likely to rise as more workers feared trapped in debris |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/17-workers-die-in-reactor-blast-at-anakapalli-pharma-unit/articleshow/112694436.cms |access-date=22 August 2024 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><br />
<br />
==About the Factory==<br />
Essential is an Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing company that constructs [[Active ingredient|active pharmaceutical ingredients]] as well as [[Intermediate good|intermediary products]]. The 40-acre facility unit was constructed on the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation campus with a [[Indian rupee|₹]]200 [[crore]] budget and began production in April 2019.<ref name="ndtv"/><br />
<br />
Around 400 workers made up of two shifts were working in the factory at the time of the explosion.<ref name="ndtv"/><ref name="indiatimes"/><br />
<br />
==Explosion==<br />
At around 2:15&nbsp;p.m. [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] on 21 August 2024, an explosion believed to be caused by an electrical fire occurred at the facility. Due to the explosion occurring at lunchtime, a much higher casualty number was averted.<ref name="ndtv"/><ref name="reuters"/> At least 18 people were killed<ref>{{cite news |title=Explosion and fire at a pharmaceutical plant in India kill at least 18 workers |url=https://apnews.com/article/india-factory-explosion-fire-casualties-0fbda5eaf8276d476ed4f189cf64f987 |date=22 August 2024 |work=Associated Press}}</ref> in the explosion and resulting fire, while 41 more suffered injuries, of which several were described as "severe chemical burns".<ref name="ndtv"/><ref name="indianexpress">{{Cite web |date=21 August 2024 |title=‘Their skin was peeling off from the chemical burns’: Andhra reactor blast that killed 15 leaves trail of broken homes |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/skin-peeling-off-chemical-burns-andhra-reactor-blast-killed-14-broken-homes-9526074/ |access-date=21 August 2024 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><br />
<br />
Several [[fire engine]]s were dispatched to put out the resulting fires, and 13 people trapped inside the facility were rescued.<ref name="ndtv"/> Thick smoke surrounding the facility impeded rescue and fire extinguishing operations.<ref name="indianexpress"/><br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[List of explosions]]<br />
* [[2024 Rajkot gaming zone fire]]<br />
* [[2024 Thane explosion]]<br />
* [[2024 Virudhunagar explosions]]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
{{Disasters in India in 2024}}<br />
<br />
{{coord missing|Andhra Pradesh}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:2024 fires in Asia]]<br />
[[Category:2024 disasters in India]]<br />
[[Category:2024 industrial disasters]]<br />
[[Category:2020s in Andhra Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:August 2024 in India]]<br />
[[Category:Explosions in 2024]]<br />
[[Category:Explosions in India]]<br />
[[Category:Factory fires]]<br />
[[Category:Industrial fires and explosions in India]]<br />
[[Category:Anakapalli district]]</div>PorterStowell75