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The Hindu
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
CITU blames lack of safety audits for recurrent accidents at pharma units
Expressing concern over the death of 40 people in the reactor blast at a pharma company near Hyderabad, CITU State general secretary Ch. Narasinga Rao has blamed callousness by factory managements and lack of safety audits for the recurring accidents in pharma companies. Mr. Narasinga Rao, while addressing the media on Wednesday, recalled the accident occurred at Escientia Pharma in Atchutapuram near Visakhapatnam last year, which claimed 17 lives. 'During the last one year, 32 persons have lost their lives in 11 accidents at pharma units in Anakapalli district,' he said. The gas leak from the LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam in the past had claimed 15 lives. He alleged that the negligence of the management was responsible for those accidents. 'However, neither the Centre nor the State had punished the erring management. On the contrary, LG Polymers was given the red carpet to set up its plant in Sri City of Tirupati district. Though pharma companies are in the red category list, the mandatory inspections were ignored on the pretext of Ease of Doing Business (EODB) and Speed of Doing Business (SODB),' Mr. Narasinga Rao said. He alleged that inspections were not being conducted by the officials concerned even after complaints related to violations of laws were lodged. 'Inspections are being done only after approval from Delhi,' he said and sought to know why AI could not be utilised to prevent industrial accidents. He alleged that the use of outdated equipment and the reuse of recovered solvents were the main causes for reactor blasts. 'The governments are washing their hands off after payment of ex gratia. A super speciality hospital with a burns unit should be available close to pharma industries. The Burns Unit, which was available in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), was closed,' he pointed out. He said that it was unfortunate that the governments, which were evincing keen interest in the establishment of pharma companies, were not bothered about the safety of workers. The lack of rest, enrolment of unskilled workers, in areas which require high proficiency, were the other causes contributing to accidents. CITU district president KM Srinivas, and Pharma City Staff and Workers Union president Ganisetty Satyanarayana were present.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
YSR Congress Party politicising Simhachalam wall collapse tragedy, alleges Bheemunipatnam MLA
Bheemunipatnam MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao on Friday criticised former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and the YSRCP leaders for allegedly politicising the recent wall collapse tragedy atop Simhachalam Hill during Chandanotsavam festival on April 30. He accused the YSRCP leaders of attempting to gain political mileage from the unfortunate incident, in which seven people lost their lives. Addressing a press conference at his residence on Friday, Mr. Srinivasa Rao found fault with Mr. Jagan and the YSRCP leaders calling the Simhachalam accident as 'political murders'. He reminded some of the incidents during the year 2019-24 under the former YSRCP government, which include Kachuluru boat accident in which 47 were killed, 37 people died after Annamayya Dam breached, 12 people died in LG Polymers gas leak in Visakhapatnam, 11 died in RUIA hospital oxygen dip in Tirupati, 11 died in a crane accident, 10 dead in a fire accident in COVID-19 care centre in Vijayawada, 13 died after drinking sanitiser in Pamuru in Prakasam and over 40 died after consuming contaminated arrack at Jangareddygudam. He also said that during 2019-23, as many as 43 industrial accidents occurred in undivided Visakhapatnam district, in which 91 people died. 'Accidents can happen under any government due to various reasons,' said Mr. Srinivasa Rao. 'It is deeply unfortunate that YSRCP leaders are labelling every incident, including the Simhachalam tragedy, as a political murder. During the YSRCP's government, the TDP never politicised incidents involving the loss of lives. What truly matters is how the government responds and the extent of support provided to the victims.' ₹1 crore ex gratia Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that, apart from the LG Polymers incident, the YSRCP government never offered an ex gratia of ₹1 crore in any other accident case across the State. Mr. Srinivasa Rao criticised the party for setting ₹1 crore as a benchmark and demanding it for all incidents. The Bheemunipatnam MLA also took a jibe at Mr. Jagan, questioning his promise to give ₹1 crore ex gratia to the Simhachalam victims if he comes to power again, calling it unrealistic and misleading. Mr. Srinivasa Rao also alleged that under the YSRCP government, the Hindu temples were neglected. He said that the Union government has sanctioned ₹54 crore as part of PRASAD scheme to take up development projects. However till the year 2024, only 5% works were taken up. This reflects the commitment of the YSRCP to develop temples. He also reiterated that the State government has constituted a three-member committee which has already inspected the accident site. He said that whoever may be involved in the accident, will not be spared and strict action will be initiated against them. When asked about the possibility of conducting a 'samprokshana' ritual at Simhachalam following the recent accident, Mr. Srinivasa Rao stated that, according to the temple priests, the incident did not take place in the 'Mada Veedhulu' (temple's sacred outer streets). However, respecting the sentiments of the devotees, the priests have decided to perform the 'samprokshana' and a 'Santi Homam' on May 3.
India.com
01-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
YS Jagan Blames Govt Negligence for Simhachalam Mishap, Demands Ex-Gratia and Accountability
YS Jagan Blames Govt Negligence for Simhachalam Mishap Visakhapatnam: YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday held the Andhra Pradesh government responsible for the Simhachalam temple wall collapse, citing 'negligence and recklessness' as the cause of the tragedy. He demanded Rs 1 crore ex gratia to each of the families of the seven deceased. Seven dead, several injured in temple tragedy The incident occurred in the small hours at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, where a rain-soaked wall collapsed, crushing seven devotees to death and injuring several others during the Chandanotsavam celebrations. Ex Gratia comparison with LG Polymers gas leak Addressing the media after visiting the victims' families, Reddy urged the government to match the Rs 1 crore compensation paid to the victims of the LG Polymers gas leak in 2020, during his tenure. He further promised to pay the difference himself if the state fails to do so upon his return to power. Naidu announces Rs 25 Lakh for deceased, Rs 3 Lakh for injured Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced Rs 25 lakh compensation for each deceased and Rs 3 lakh for the injured, drawing criticism from the opposition parties. Construction quality, timeline, governance questioned Reddy claimed the collapsed wall was constructed hastily and without adherence to safety norms. He alleged 'It was started just six days ago and finished two days before the collapse,', adding that the wall was not made of RCC. He criticised the authorities for allowing devotees to queue along a ten-foot wall, despite forecasts of heavy rain and the pre-scheduled Chandanotsavam festival, which draws lakhs of people annually. Criticising Naidu's governance style, Jagan said: 'Chandrababu forms committees after every disaster, but their reports never see the light of day,' citing the Tirupati laddu ghee controversy as an example of incomplete accountability.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Andhra govt's 'negligence' led to Simhachalam wall collapse mishap: YSRCP chief Jagan
Visakhapatnam, YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday said that the government's "negligence and recklessness" led to the Simhachalam wall collapse disaster and demanded an ex gratia of ₹1 crore each for the seven deceased victims. Seven people were crushed to death in the early hours of the day when a rain-soaked wall collapsed at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple in Visakhapatnam. "Severe action must be taken against those responsible for the mishap, and ₹1 crore ex gratia should be given to the families of the deceased," Reddy told reporters after meeting the victims' kin. He urged the government to match the ₹1 crore compensation paid to the victims of the LG Polymers gas leak in 2020 during the previous YSRCP regime. If the state fails to pay the amount, Reddy said he would cover the balance after returning to power. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced ₹25 lakh compensation for each of the deceased and ₹3 lakh for the injured. After consoling the bereaved families, Reddy alleged that the collapsed wall was constructed without following proper procedures—"It was started only six days ago and completed two days ago," he claimed. Calling it a hurried job, Reddy said the wall was not made of Reinforced Cement Concrete . Despite heavy rains, devotees were asked to queue along it, showing the government's negligence, he alleged. Despite knowing that Chandanotsavam is a calendar event at the temple and that lakhs of devotees would attend, Reddy said the authorities "failed" to take proper measures and allowed devotees to queue up at the ten-foot-high wall without providing any facilities. According to the YSRCP chief, 'ill-fated' incidents such as the Simhachalam wall collapse and the Tirupati temple stampede in January have occurred under the N Chandrababu Naidu-led NDA government. Recalling the death of 29 devotees during the Godavari Pushkaralu pilgrimage in the previous TDP regime , Reddy emphasised that this legacy of disasters continues due to the government's "sheer negligence". He further claimed that several cows had died at a Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams goshala recently. He also pointed out the deaths of tortoises of religious significance at Srikurmam and the bulldozing of the Kasinayana ashram in Kadapa. "Chandrababu Naidu is in the habit of forming committees whenever such incidents occur, but the whereabouts of their reports are never known," he alleged, citing the fate of the Tirupati laddu ghee controversy.
