4 die in chemical factory explosion

Four people were charred to death while three others suffered severe burns in a reactor blast at Durga Intermediates located in IDI, Phase I, Jeedimetla, early on Sunday.

The company is unauthorised and does not have the requisite licence to run the unit.

The victims, all workers, have been identified as Narasimha, 28, Swamy, 30, Ramana, 25, and Raju, 26. They died on the spot, while Rambabu, Sriramulu and Venkat Reddy suffered severe burns. The mishap took place at 8 am.

“During the installation of isopropyl alcohol in the stainless steel container (1,000 litres), there was excessive pressure in the reactor due to excessive heating,” said the Alwal DCP M. Shiva Prasad.