Visakhapatnam: The blast at the pharmaceutical company in the SEZ of Anakapalli district had been so intense that body parts of the victims got detached and flew all over the place.
As daylight emerged on Thursday, it turned into a horrific site, with ants feeding on the flesh of some victims that had got strewn in the area, including trees.
Eyewitnesses described the scene of the blast as "hell on earth." People could be seen severely burned, crying out in agony.
Rescue teams had the grim task of unearthing 12 of the bodies trapped within a collapsed wall, all charred beyond recognition.
Forensic teams worked meticulously through the debris, discovering fragmented body parts, including hands and legs.
Initial reports suggested that 18 people had died and 36 suffered injuries. However, after a thorough investigation, officials confirmed the death toll as 17.
