Vice-President Dhankhar condoles deaths in reactor blast at Andhra's Anakapalli

New Delhi: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar offered condolences on the loss of lives in the reactor blast at a pharma company in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Atchutapuram in Andhra Pradesh's Anakapalli on Wednesday.

At least 17 were killed and several others sustained burn injuries.

"Deeply pained by the loss of lives due to mishap at a factory in Anakapalle, Andhra Pradesh. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,' wrote Dhankhar on X.

The incident happened after a 500-kilo-litre capacitor reactor exploded at a pharma company with around 200 workers still working at the time.

Anakapalli SP M Deepika said that rescue operations are underway at the blast site and a team of NDRF is coordinating the rescue efforts. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.

The Chief Minister is expected to visit the family of the deceased and injured on Thursday. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences and said that he was "pained" by the loss of lives in the mishap.

The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, as per the PMO.

"Pained by the loss of lives due to a mishap at a factory in Anakapalle. Condolences to those who lost their near and dear ones. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000," PMO mentioned in a post on X.

(ANI)