7 feared dead in reactor blast in Sangareddy

Hyderabad: As many as seven persons including plant director Ravi Sharma died and at least 25 workers suffered burn injuries in a fire mishap after three reactors exploded at SB Organics Ltd in Sangareddy district on Wednesday.

The bulk drug manufacturing unit is located in Chandapur village of Hatnoor mandal.

Around 5 pm, of the 60 workers, around 30 were working nearby three reactors inside the pharma company. Ravi was monitoring the workers at one of the reactors to clear the batch of manufacturing drugs. Suddenly, a fire broke out as reactors exploded one by one.

Ravi and six workers — who are said to be from Bihar — were charred to death. Around 25 workers suffered injuries and started screaming and crying for assistance.

As the premises was engulfed with thick smoke, workers had a tough time identifying the victims. Some workers fled from the factory.

Initially, locals who noticed the mishap rushed into the premises and initiated a rescue operation. Police and fire safety officials rushed to the place based on information given by an unknown caller.

The firemen and police retrieved four bodies from the spot and shifted these to the Sangareddy area hospital. The injured were shifted to hospitals.

According to officials, maintenance in-charges, Parli Subramanyam and Suresh Paul, among others are yet to be identified.

Sangareddy collector Valluru Kranthi briefed the media. Ministers Konda Surekha and Damodar Rajanarsimha visited the spot. Later, Rajanarsimha went to the hospital and interacted with the victims and their family members. He said the government would provide better treatment facilities to injured.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed his grief over the demise of workers and directed officials to provide proper treatment to the injured victims. Revanth Reddy reviewed the situation with officials.

Officials explained to the Chief Minister that the fire accident occurred due to the explosion of the reactors.

Opposition leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao expressed his grief over the deaths. He urged the government to take steps to help the injured workers.