Pharma unit lacks fire safety tools

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, May 31, 2013 : It took more than 12 hours for the fire fighters to bring the high rising flames to control at the factory of Glochem Industries Ltd, in the Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City (JNPC). The pharma firm is said to be running its unit violating norms, especially comprising safety standards.

Fire broke out on Friday evening and it was brought under control only in the early hours of Friday. Around 8 fire tenders including two foam tenders were pressed in to bring down the flames.

Experts pointed that the first explosion took place in the block B of the five blocks due to the exothermic reaction while manufacturing an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) having sodium hydrate in one of the reactors. While the manufacturing material came out of the vent of the emergency release system, it touched the wet floor. The material having the nature of being ignited if touched by water, explosion took place and the flames followed. The flames later spread to the nearby warehouse where drums of solvents were stored.

The entire warehouse was gutted and there was a major damage to the block B. Rest of the blocks suffered external damages. The estimated loss was put up at Rs 60 cr. The 5 acre factory in the plot no 77 of JNPC had 80 reactors in total.

The pharma unit was being prosecuted by the chief inspector of factories for lacking adequate fire fighting equipment and the district fire office earlier in two occasions cautioned and served notices to Glochem Industries to install necessary fire safety measures and obtain an NOC from them. “We have insisted and cautioned them to obtain the mandatory NOC from us. They didn’t even apply for it. The unit doesn’t have a fire hydrant system at all. We warned then twice in earlier two occasions,” said district fire officer Gnana Sundara Rao.

The joint chief inspector of factories, Chandrasekar Varma told this correspondent that they have prosecuted the firm in three cases, which includes running the unit without proper fire fighting equipment and commencement of operations without duly informing the authorities.

“Fortunately there were no casualties in this case as the vigilant workers after hearing the emergency alarm rushed out. We have now freshly served notices asking them not to commence operations until the unit is assessed and checked by us as part of routine,” said Varma.

Meanwhile, ports and infrastructure minister, Ganta Srinivasa Rao visited the mishap site and ordered an inquiry into the incident by the district collector. He also called for a high level meeting with all the senior district officials, various stakeholders on Saturday to discuss methods to improve safety standards at the industries due to the increased fire mishaps in pharma city and other industrial hubs in the district.