NHRC seeks report from Andhra Pradesh on toxic gas deaths at pharma plant

The NHRC has issued notices to the Andhra Pradesh government and police over the deaths of two workers and the hospitalisation of another following a gas leak at a pharma waste treatment plant in Anakapalli.

New Delhi:The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday said it has issued notices to the government of Andhra Pradesh and a senior police officer over reports that two employees died and another was hospitalised after inhaling poisonous gas while working at a waste treatment plant of a pharmaceutical company in Anakapalli district.

The NHRC has examined that the content of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of the human rights of the victims.

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The Commission in a statement said it has taken “suo motu cognisance of a media report that two employees died and another was hospitalised after inhaling poisonous gas when they were working during the night shift at an effluent waste treatment plant of a pharmaceutical company in Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh, on 11th June”.

Reportedly, the victims collapsed after inhaling the poisonous gas, suspected to have been released during the waste treatment process, it said.

Therefore, the Commission has issued notices to the chief secretary, of the government of Andhra Pradesh and the superintendent of police of Anakapalli, seeking a detailed report in two weeks, the rights panel said.

The report is expected to include the status of the health of the injured, who was reportedly undergoing treatment at a hospital and compensation, if any, provided to him and the next of kin of the deceased, it added.