Two killed, nine injured in reactor blast at pharma unit in Yadadri-Bhongir

Two workers were killed and nine others injured after an alleged reactor blast triggered a fire at a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit at Dothigudem in Pochampally mandal of Yadadri-Bhongir district late on Friday night.

The fire services received a Dial 100 call at 10.27 p.m., following which fire engines from Choutuppal, Bhongir and Hayathnagar fire stations were rushed to the premises. Firefighting and rescue operations continued for several hours, with the last fire service vehicle leaving the premises at around 4 a.m.

The deceased were identified as Chennu Nagi Reddy, 31, of Chinnagudem village in Peddavoor mandal of Nalgonda district, and Naganaboina Naresh Kumar, 29, of Choudaram in Khammam district.

Nine injured workers were rescued from the premises and shifted to two private hospitals. Five were taken to one private hospital and four to another.

The facility, Hazelo Lab, a one-storeyed building, is involved in the manufacture of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and bulk drug intermediates, according to a regulatory filing with the State Level Environmental Impact Assessment Authority. The factory is located around 50 km from Hyderabad.

Those shifted to the first private hospital were Ranabothu Rajashekar Reddy, 38, of Madavaram village in Munagala mandal of Suryapet; Sri Hari Meda, 27, of Rolupadi village in Tiruvuru mandal of NTR district; Chennareddy Shiva Kumar Reddy, 30, of Bhayala Nagar in Chatrinaka, Hyderabad; Marella Yohan, 26, of Andukuru in Kosuru, Guntur; and Vedula Chenna Keshavulu, 38, of Venkatapuram village in Vennachedu, Khammam.

Those shifted to the second private hospital were Yesudas Kambampati, 25, of Hanuman Nagar in Achampet, Nagarkurnool; Doodala Shiva Shankar, 28, of Sunkenapalli village in Chityala; Ganesh Saketi, 30, of Nukalavada in Vizianagaram; and Pentyala Ravi, 42, of Hanuman Nagar in Choutuppal.

Yadadri-Bhongir District Fire Officer Madhusudan said the cause of the fire was under investigation. Fire services personnel remained at the spot for several hours, assessing the damage and carrying out rescue and firefighting operations.

The exact circumstances that led to the reactor blast and subsequent fire were yet to be established. Further details are awaited.