Pharma Firm Ignored Safety Gaps Before Deadly Blast, Paid Rs 32 Cr To Victims, Parliament Informed
Compensation
New Delhi: In the aftermath of the fatal explosion at Escientia Advanced Sciences Pvt. Ltd. in Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh, the Parliament was recently informed that multiple lapses in safety protocols were observed at the pharmaceutical plant despite prior audits, and that the company has paid Rs 32 crore as compensation to affected workers and families.
This came during a recent Rajya Sabha session when MP G.V.L. Narasimha Rao raised a query related to safety violations and compensation paid by the company. In response, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Anupriya Patel, provided the following details in a written reply:
“The Andhra Pradesh Government has informed that the management of the company has paid the following amounts to the dependents of deceased and injured workers: Rs 1.00 crore each to the families of 17 deceased workers, Rs 50.00 lakh each to 21 workers who sustained serious injuries, and Rs 25.00 lakh each to 18 workers who sustained minor injuries.”
The Minister also revealed that while safety audits were conducted in 2021 and 2022, and the unit had claimed 93.5% compliance based on inspections conducted on 10.11.2023, 31.01.2024, and 30.04.2024, the explosion exposed gaps in implementation. The company had also reportedly carried out, “Six mock emergency exercises and six safety committee meetings with the participation of workers.”
However, the inspections that followed the incident uncovered critical shortcomings. The Minister stated, “The inspections highlighted the following shortcomings in implementation of recommendations of earlier Safety Audits/HAZOP studies: (i) Lack of adequate condition monitoring of plant and equipment, (ii) Inadequate risk assessments, (iii) Inadequate standard operating procedures, (iv) Inadequate emergency response plan, (v) Ventilation systems improvement, (vi) Inadequate fire safety systems.”
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) further noted that the unit is governed by the Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989, and clarified:
“Major Accident Hazard (MAH) units are required to prepare the Safety Audit Reports and Onsite Emergency Plans and submit to the authorities concerned. The responsibility of preparing Off-site Emergency Plan lies with the concerned authorities.”
The Andhra Pradesh Government also cited compliance obligations under Rule 97 of the Andhra Pradesh Factories Rules, 1950, and detailed equipment and process safety norms under Rules 61-I, 61-O, etc., all applicable to pharmaceutical factories.
As of now, the official reply does not disclose the status of any ongoing investigation or enforcement action against the company following the explosion.
