Fire in Andhra Pradesh's chemical lab kills six, 13 seriously injured

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Akkireddygudem: At least six people were reported dead while 13 were seriously injured in a fire accident in Andhra Pradesh’s Porus labs limited. The lab is situated in Akkireddygudem which falls in the West Godavari district.

As per the report, the fire took place late in the night when the victims were working the night shift.

Five persons died on the spot while another succumbed at the hospital. Four of the deceased hailed from Bihar.

The injured were shifted to Government General Hospital in Vijayawada, where the condition of five of them is stated to be critical.

Fire fighting personnel with the help of NDRF battled for nearly three hours to control the fire which broke out in unit-4 of the plant after a suspected gas leak.

More than 100 people were working in the plant at the time of the mishap and they ran out in panic after hearing the loud explosion.

The plant manufactures pharmaceutical intermediates. Some of the survivors alleged that the negligence of the company led to the tragedy.

District Collector Prasanna Venkatesh said an inquiry will be conducted and action will be taken against the company if it was found to be negligent. He said the factory will be closed till the inquiry is completed.