The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident in which at least 17 workers were killed and numerous more were injured and instructed the authorities to carry out a comprehensive probe. The explosion took place at a private industrial plant in the Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday and ripped through a pharmaceutical facility.
As it was lunchtime when the accident happened, there were fewer workers in the factory, which may have contributed to the greater damage. It is anticipated that the dead toll will increase as search efforts continue.
In a statement released on Friday, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) voiced grave concern about what appeared to be a breach of safety protocol that caused the event.
The director general of police and the chief secretary of Andhra Pradesh have received notices from the commission urging them to look into the matter thoroughly. The investigation is anticipated to look into whether the industrial unit complied with all safety rules and legal obligations and whether the authorities in charge of overseeing the plant were negligent in any way.
A thorough report must be turned in to the NHRC within two weeks, under their mandate. The status of the FIR that was filed in relation to the incident, the medical care being given to the injured, and the payment of compensation to the relatives of the deceased or injured should all be included in the report.
The commission has also requested details regarding any efforts made for the victims’ relief and rehabilitation, as well as the actions taken against those deemed accountable.
The State Disaster Response Force team continued to look for survivors after the explosion, which caused considerable worry. The authorities worry that more bodies might be buried beneath the debris because the origin of the explosion is still unknown.
(with inputs from PTI)