Sunday, April 7, 2013

28 victims in just 11 months


By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 7, 2013: The lack of safety measures and disregard for the lives of workers in industrial units causes needless loss of life. Some 28 persons died and more than 30 were badly injured and are still undergoing treatment, in various industrial accidents that took place in Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts since May 2012.
Around 91 accidents were reported here in 69 units between 2010 and 2012. Most of the accidents have been attributed to human error. Of the 91, seven have occurred since May last. Usually when casualties occur, the government orders a probe.
A high-level committee headed by former SAIL chairman and managing director S.R. Jain probed an explosion at the Vizag Steel Plant on June 13, 2012 in which 19 persons died.
A panel that was consisted to discuss the matter stated that were no lapses in the response to the disaster. The number of casualties would have been much less if people whose presence was not required had not been present.
The magisterial inquiry into the January 5, 2013 blast at Hetero Drugs conducted by district joint collector Praveen Kumar on February 7, 2013 brought to light several glaring lapses on the part of the management, including disregard of safety standards. The police arrested the company’s deputy general manager Goli Srinivasa Reddy, on March 1.
The then Srikakulam district collector G. Venkatrami Reddy ordered an inquiry by additional joint collector to look into the circumstances that led to the blast at Nagarjuna Agrichem Limited plant in Srikakulam, on July 1, 2012 which left 19 workers injured. The report is yet to be submitted.

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