Tirupati: At least four workers were killed and 10 others injured after a boiler exploded at a pharmaceutical factory in Sri City in Tirupati district on Saturday morning, officials said.
The powerful explosion damaged part of the factory building and caused a section of the roof to collapse, trapping several workers inside. Rescue teams rushed to the facility and evacuated those trapped in the aftermath of the blast.
The incident occurred when several workers on the night shift were preparing to leave the facility. The explosion triggered a fire, prompting firefighters, police personnel and other emergency responders to rush to the spot.
The fire was later brought under control, while the injured workers were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment. Authorities have begun an investigation to determine what caused the boiler to explode.
Blast causes roof to collapse
The explosion reportedly occurred in the early hours of Saturday at the pharmaceutical facility in Sri City. The force of the blast caused a portion of the factory structure, including part of the roof, to collapse.
Several workers were inside the facility at the time of the incident. Some were reportedly trapped following the structural damage.
Emergency response teams immediately began rescue operations at the site. Firefighters and police personnel worked alongside rescue teams to reach the affected workers and evacuate those trapped inside the premises.
The fire that followed the explosion was subsequently brought under control, allowing rescue and relief operations to continue.
Four workers were confirmed dead in the incident, while 10 others sustained injuries. The injured were transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
Officials are expected to establish the identities of the deceased and assess the condition of those receiving treatment as the investigation progresses.
Night-shift workers among those affected
The explosion occurred as several workers on the night shift were preparing to leave the factory.
The timing of the incident meant that a number of employees were present at the facility when the boiler exploded. The resulting structural damage and fire complicated the initial rescue operation.
Emergency personnel responded quickly after receiving information about the blast. Rescue teams searched the affected section of the building for workers who may have been trapped beneath debris.
The authorities have not yet released details about the exact sequence of events leading up to the explosion or the condition of the machinery involved.
The cause of the blast remains under investigation.
Sri City houses several industrial units
Sri City, located along National Highway 16 in Andhra Pradesh, is a major multi-product industrial and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) complex.
The industrial hub is home to more than 250 companies operating across different sectors, including pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The latest incident has once again brought attention to industrial safety at large manufacturing facilities, particularly those involving boilers, chemicals and other potentially hazardous processes.
Authorities will examine the circumstances surrounding the explosion as part of the investigation. The assessment is expected to cover the condition and operation of the boiler, safety procedures at the facility and other factors that could have contributed to the accident.
Andhra Pradesh has witnessed several industrial accidents
The Sri City incident comes amid a series of industrial accidents reported in Andhra Pradesh in recent months.
In June, eight workers were killed after a ladle carrying molten steel broke at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) plant, also known as the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. The incident triggered a major fire at the facility.
The accident highlighted the risks associated with large-scale steel manufacturing, where workers operate around extremely high temperatures and molten metal.
Earlier this year, in February, 21 people were killed in an explosion at a firecracker manufacturing facility in Vetlapalem village in Kakinada district.
Another fatal firecracker factory blast was reported in Rayavaram in the Dr B R Ambedkar Konaseema district in October last year. Six people were killed in that incident.
The accidents have renewed attention on workplace safety and enforcement at industrial and manufacturing facilities across the state.
Investigation into boiler explosion underway
Authorities are investigating the cause of Saturday’s explosion at the pharmaceutical factory.
The investigation will be crucial in determining whether the blast was caused by a technical failure, an operational issue or another factor. Officials are also expected to examine whether prescribed safety procedures were being followed at the facility.
The condition of the boiler and other equipment involved in the incident will be assessed as part of the inquiry.
Investigators will also examine the extent of the structural damage and establish how the explosion affected workers inside the facility.
For industrial establishments, boilers and other high-pressure equipment require strict safety procedures and regular maintenance. Any failure involving such machinery can have serious consequences because of the pressure and heat involved.
Rescue and relief operations continue
Following the explosion, emergency personnel focused on controlling the fire and reaching workers who were trapped inside the damaged section of the factory.
Once the fire was brought under control, rescue teams were able to evacuate those who remained inside.
The 10 injured workers were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Further information about their condition is expected from officials and hospital authorities.
Police and other departments are continuing to coordinate the response while investigators gather evidence from the scene.
Industrial safety under focus
The accident is likely to put workplace safety measures at the Sri City facility under scrutiny.
As Sri City houses a large concentration of manufacturing companies, including pharmaceutical units, industrial safety remains an important consideration for workers and the surrounding area.
The latest blast also comes against the backdrop of other deadly industrial accidents in Andhra Pradesh, making the findings of the investigation particularly significant.
Authorities will need to establish the immediate cause of the boiler explosion as well as determine whether any safety or maintenance issues contributed to the incident.
Conclusion
The boiler explosion at a pharmaceutical factory in Sri City has claimed four lives and left 10 workers injured. The blast caused part of the factory building to collapse and briefly triggered a fire, with emergency teams rescuing workers trapped inside.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion and are expected to examine the boiler, safety systems and operational conditions at the facility. The incident has once again highlighted the importance of stringent safety measures at industrial establishments in Andhra Pradesh.