18 workers were killed and more than 30 others injured after a massive fire broke out following an explosion at a pharma unit in a SEZ at Andhra Pradesh. “We do not want empty promises from authorities, but concrete actions. This has become routine in recent years, with promises of improved safety at industries but no real changes. They talk about forming committees, but nothing comes of it”, said the relatives of the workers. 

Groundxero| August 22, 2024

In a major industrial accident, 18 workers were killed and more than 30 others injured after a massive fire broke out at a unit of Escientia Advanced Sciences Private Limited in Atchutapuram SEZ in Rambilli mandal of Anakapalle district of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday afternoon. A few of the injured workers are in a critical condition. The company specialises in manufacturing intermediate chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), and began operations in April 2019. 

Although it was initially claimed that the accident was a result of a reactor explosion, the incident actually occurred due to a large explosion that happened after solvent oil was pumped from one floor to another and ignited. After the explosion, the ceiling of the first floor collapsed, trapping several workers under the debris. Government officials are yet to confirm the exact number of workers present at the time of the incident and the number of deaths. The number of casualties might go further up as rescue operations are still underway. The factory has 381 employees and operates in two shifts with. The blast reportedly happened during lunch time.

Harrowing scenes unfolded with injured workers — their skin ripped and peeling off, bodies soaked in blood — being shifted to hospitals in ambulances after the incident occurred at 2.15 pm on Wednesday at Escientia Advanced Sciences Pvt Ltd. – PTI

With economic growth and industrial progress, India has witnessed an unfortunate consequence: a disturbing rise in fatal accidents at workplaces. Industrial accidents kill and permanently disable thousands every year. The Union labour minister told Parliament in 2021 that at least 6,500 workers had died¹ while working in factories, ports, mines and construction sites in five years. Out of total industrial casualties, 5629 were reported in factory settings between 2014 and 2018, while 549 were reported from mines, 74 at ports and 237 died at construction sites in central government jurisdiction. In the year 2021, as many as 3,791 workers were injured in factories registered with the government. An estimated one-fourth of these injuries resulted in fatalities.

The pharma plant is in Andhara Pradesh’s special economic zone at Atchutapuram village, which was established in 2009 with over 200 companies. Anakapalli is adjacent to the port city of Visakhapatnam, a highly industrialised area with many mishaps, including hazardous chemical leakages. In one of the most deadly industrial accidents in the region, 22 workers were killed when a blast occurred in the refinery of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation in Visakhapatnam in 1997. Atchutapuram SEZ has this year also recorded several fatal accidents. Three workers had died in accidents in factories inside the SEZ this year. On July 17, one worker died and two others were injured in a reactor explosion at Vasant Chemicals operating inside the SEZ. On April 18, one worker was killed and 5 injured at Alkali Metals Company due to methyl nitrate gas leakage. One worker died at Aurobindo Pharma during pressure testing of a vacuum tray dryer.

Several relatives of the workers continue to wait anxiously at the pharma company, eager to know the fate of their loved ones. They raised concerns about safety standards in the factories and said, “We do not want empty promises from authorities, but concrete actions. This has become routine in recent years, with promises of improved safety at industries but no real changes. They talk about forming committees, but nothing comes of it.” “I want my father back and this company removed…,” a minor girl told a news channel, referring to her father, who was employed in the firm.

The state government today announced an ex-gratia of ₹1 crore each to the family members of those who died in the industrial accident. As usual, an enquiry committee has been formed, and the PM, the President, the CM etc.  has expressed grief and condoled the death of the workers.

While as many as 3,331 deaths of workers were recorded between 2018 and 2020; only 14 people were imprisoned for offences under the Factories Act, 1948, during the same period. Recurring events of fatal accident which should be called ‘industrial killing’ come with manifold threat to labour rights. It clashes with the workers’ right to life and hence calls for retributive punishment which means that the punishment should be in proportionate to the wrong committed. But in most cases, the ‘killings’ are termed an ‘accidents’ and compensatory justice is advocated for the same. The government itself announces lump-sum compensation to the families of the deceased or injured, shifting focus away from gross negligence and accountability of the owner/management.

Compensatory justice can neither suffice nor be proportionate to the wrong committed in most cases. Therefore, where violation of safety regulations by the owner/management is well established as the cause of a fatal accident, both criminal punishment to the perpetrator and compensation to the victims/families should be awarded to mitigate the irreparable loss suffered by the deceased or injured worker’s family.