Ten injured in Andhra agrochemical plant fire

Hyderabad, June 30 (IANS) Ten workers of an agrochemical company were injured in a fire following an explosion at the plant in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district Saturday morning, police said. Some workers are feared trapped in the plant.

Fire broke out at Nagarjuna Agrichem Limited following an explosion in the fifth block of the plant, which produces agrochemicals. The plant is located Chilkapalem in Srikakulam district of north coastal Andhra, about 700 km from here.

The injured were shifted to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) at Srikakulam.

About 200 employees were reportedly working at the plant at the time of the incident. The workers ran in panic after the chemical reactor exploded.

Dense black smoke engulfed the entire area including nearby villages and the national highway. Fire tenders rushed to the scene.

The district administration has launched rescue and relief operations.