Synergene Pharma Blast Claims Two More Lives, Toll Rises to Three

Visakhapatnam: Two more victims of the Synergene pharma company explosion have succumbed to their injuries at the Indus Hospital in Visakhapatnam. The toll in blast during a chemical mixing process on Thursday rose to three. The two dead were K Suryanarayana, a 32-year-old senior chemist from Vizianagaram, and 22-year-old Lal Singh Purty from Jharkhand. Both sustained 90 per cent burns while the fourth victim was under treatment.

According to district collector Vijaya Krishnan, three workers from Jharkhand and one from Vizianagaram district were injured in the mishap at Parvada.

A 22-year-old Roya Angiriya, resident of Jharkhand, died on August 24, while 21-year-old Lal Singh Purthi, also from Jharkhand, died the next day. Cheques of Rs 1 crore each were handed over to the family members of the dead on Sunday.

Suryanarayana, the 35-year-old resident of Vizianagaram district, passed away in the morning on Monday while under treatment. An ex-gratia check of Rs 1 crore will be given to his family on Tuesday, the collector said.

CITU leader RKSV Kumar described the deaths as "murders by management" due to “negligence and inadequate safety steps.” Such incidents have become routine, due to a lack of safety audits and inspections, as well as a lack of fire and pollution controls. The blame is also on corrupt officials, he said.

The management of Synergene Company issued a compensation check of Rs 1 crore to Suryanarayana's family and arranged for the transportation of his body back to his village. Union leaders sought comprehensive measures, including the establishment of specialized medical facilities in the area to ensure urgent medical response in such situations.