Seven workers of an edible oil packaging industry in Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh died on Thursday morning when they were in the process of cleaning a large tank in the unit premises.
The incident occurred at about 6:30 am at AS Agro Industries, located in G Ragampeta village of Peddapuram mandal, which the state industries officials said was established recently.
The seven workers reportedly died due to suffocation, probably inhaling some poisonous gases when they were inside the tank chamber. Five of the deceased are from Paderu district while two are from Peddapuram.
The police, district and industry department officials rushed to the spot and the bodies were retrieved from inside the tanker. The factory was sealed and a case of criminal negligence causing death was registered against the management.
“The seven men climbed down into the tanker for cleaning and died due to oxygen shortage. We are probing the incident, checking if any gases were emitted which caused the mishap,” Kritika Shukla, district collector told reporters at the spot.
A committee has been formed to identify the reasons or any lapses on part of the factory management behind the death. It has to submit the report in three days.
The Jagan Mohan Reddy government has announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh each for the families of the deceased.
“In addition, another Rs 25 lakh will be provided from the factory management side to the families. Each family will also be given a job, other support,” said Gummanur Jayaram, state labour minister.