Two dead as fire breaks out in pharma unit in Anakapalli district
The Hindu
Two contract workers died and four others suffered severe burns in a fire accident that was followed by a blast at Sahithi Pharma Private Limited (Unit-I) at Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Anakapalli district on Friday morning
Two contract workers died and four others suffered severe burns in a fire accident at Sahithi Pharma Private Limited (Unit-I) at Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Anakapalli district on Friday morning.
The deceased were identified as P. Sattibabu of Jangalapalem in Rambilli mandal and U. Tirupathi of Vizianagaram.
The injured were D. Rameswar from Bhubaneswar, S. Rajababu of Rebaka in Anakapalli, S. Apparao of Nakkapalli and S. Nooka Naidu of Rambilli, who is said to be in a critical condition at King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam.
Superintendent of Police K.V. Murali Krishna and District Collector P. Ravi Subhash rushed to the spot on coming to know about the accident.
Thick smoke engulfed the surroundings of the SEZ creating panic among the locals for a while. The anxious family members of the staff and many local people gathered outside the unit, tyring to enquire about the safety of the people inside. Members of various workers’ unions blamed lack of precautions and basic safety measures for the accident.
YSRCP MLA Kannababu Raju, who reached the spot, expressed his displeasure over the safety standards in the industries.
IT Minister Gudivada Amarnath visited KGH and enquired about the treatment being given to the victims.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.