Chloroform leak at Saraka Laboratories kills two workers in Telangana's Sangareddy

Two workers died and several others fell ill after chloroform leaked at a unit of Saraka Laboratories in the Gaddapotharam industrial area of Telangana’s Sangareddy district on Friday night.

The leak at the company’s Production Unit-2 began at around 11:15 pm and was not noticed at first. By the time it was, P Sudarshan Rao, a 44-year-old shift in-charge, and Keelaparthi Balaji, a 29-year-old worker, had collapsed after breathing in the fumes. Co-workers rushed them to a private hospital in Suraram, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.

Sudarshan Rao was from Srikakulam district and Balaji from Vizianagaram district, both in Andhra Pradesh.

“Sudarshan Rao and Balaji, who were present in the facility, inhaled the fumes and lost consciousness,” said Nagarjuna Goud, the circle inspector of Jinnaram police.

Others in hospital

Several more people at the unit fell ill and are being treated in hospital. They include operator Goka Prasad, supervisors Asireddy Krishna Reddy and Nimna Ganesh, helpers Anvesh Reddy and Ravi Thun, and P Yugandhar Reddy, a trainee in the safety department. Their condition has not been made public.

The deaths came to light later that night, when Jinnaram police registered a case on a complaint from Sudarshan Rao’s wife, Sarojini.

Plant shut down

The Telangana Pollution Control Board has ordered Saraka Laboratories to shut the plant. Madhuri, the board’s executive engineer at Ramachandrapuram, confirmed the closure order.

Gudem Mahipal Reddy, the local MLA, went to the factory after news of the deaths spread. He was angered when police at first stopped him from entering the premises. After talks with him, the company’s management agreed to pay ₹70 lakh to the family of each worker who died.

Demand for a full inquiry

Former minister and Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao called the deaths a “profound tragedy”. He demanded a comprehensive investigation into the leak and strict action against the company’s management. He also asked for proper medical care for the injured workers and ex gratia of ₹1 crore for each of the two families.

The company has not made a public statement on what caused the leak or why it was not noticed sooner. Police have not said whether any company official will be named in the case, and the Pollution Control Board has not said when, or on what conditions, the unit may be allowed to reopen.