Fire engulfs AP chemical factory, 5 feared dead,many trapped

Hyderabad, Jun 30: Massive

engulfed a chemical factory in

. The fire broke out around 12 pm on Saturday, Jun 30. Five people were suspected to be dead while many workers of the factory were trapped inside the plant.

According to Venkatram Reddy, the Collector of Srikakulam district, fire broke out following a massive blast in the Nagarjuna Agrichemical factory.

Almost 40 people were there inside the factory during the time of the blast. Meanwhile, contradictory news emerged rejecting reports of any casualty. Other sources informed that workers, who were trapped inside the factory, were taken to nearby RIMS hospital.

Hours after the fire broke out, eyewitnesses informed that several other blasts were heard inside the chemical factory.

Locals were afraid and they were asked to evacuate the area as heavy amount of chemical laden smoke was coming out along with the fire. However, police sources denied such reports too. Police claimed that smoke toxicity did not warrant evacuation.

Meanwhile, Dr Krishnamurthy, the environment activist, stated that they had warned the officials of the chemical factory over the wastage disposal and safety issues of the two decades old chemical plant. It seems that all concerns and warnings have fell in some deaf ears.

OneIndia News