The death toll in the reactor explosion at a pharmaceutical company in Andhra Pradesh’s Atchutapuram on Wednesday rose to 13 and the number of injured also went up to over 40, according to PTI.

Anakapalli District Collector Vijaya Krishnan said the fire broke out at 2:15 pm at Escientia Advanced Sciences Pvt Ltd at Atchutapuram in Anakapalli district.

“The factory operates with 381 employees in two shifts. The blast occurred during lunch time. Therefore, staff presence was less,” PTI quoted Krishnan as saying, adding that the explosion is suspected to be electricity-related.

As many as 33 injured people were shifted to different hospitals in Anakapalli and Atchutapuram while the Fire department is engaged in rescue operations, deploying six fire tenders.

Further, the collector said 13 people trapped in the unit were rescued.

Earlier talking to ANI news agency, Vasamsetti Subhash, Andhra Pradesh Labour, Factories, Boilers and Insurance Medical Services Minister said that three people were killed and 17 were injured in the incident.

“A reactor explosion took place at a private company in Achutapuram in Anakapalli district. Three people were killed and 17 injured in the incident. The injured have been admitted to two private hospitals,” Subhash had said.

He said the rescue teams were unable to enter the premises due to dense smoke.

“It is not clear how many people may still be trapped inside the company. Rescue teams are working to reach there as soon as possible and further updates will be provided soon,” said the minister.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief over the loss of seven lives.

“The CM assured that the government will stand by the families of the workers who died,” said an official press release.

Escientia Advanced Sciences, which manufactures intermediate chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) commenced production in April 2019 with an investment of Rs 200 crore.

It is located in a 40-acre campus in the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation’s (APIIC) multi-product special economic zone (SEZ) at Atchutapuram cluster.

With inputs from agencies

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7 killed, over 30 injured in reactor explosion at Andhra pharma company