13 hours ago
- Health
- United News of India
NHRC notice to Andhra officials over fatal gas leak at pharma plant
New Delhi, June 24 (UNI) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today said it has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh and the Superintendent of Police of Anakapalli district, seeking a detailed report on a tragic incident in which two workers died and another was injured after inhaling toxic gas at a pharmaceutical company's effluent treatment plant.
In a statement here, the top rights body said that it has asked the authorities to submit a report within two weeks, giving details on health of the injured in the mishap, who was reportedly undergoing treatment at a hospital and compensation, if any, provided to him and the next of kin of the deceased.
The NHRC further said it has 'taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that two employees died and another was hospitalized after inhaling poisonous gas when they were working during the night shift at an effluent waste treatment plant of a Pharmaceutical company in Andhra Pradesh's Anakapalli district on June 11, 2025.'
Reportedly, the workers collapsed after inhaling the poisonous gas, suspected to have been released during the waste treatment process, noted the NHRC.
'The Commission has examined that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of the human rights of the victims,' said the statement.
Citing the Inspector of Parawada Police Station, R. Mallikarjuna Rao in the region, the media report said that all three were employees of the Safety Department. 'The incident took place during the night shift when the employees were carrying out procedures to treat waste at the Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), before transferring it to the Common ETP. The gas, suspected to have been released during the waste treatment process and the workers collapsed immediately,' as per the report.
Ganisetti Satyanarayana, from the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), has demanded compensation of ₹1 crore each for the families of the deceased employees, said the report.
