Hydrogen Peroxide Leak at Andhra Paper Mill Sparks Panic; No Casualties Reported

On Thursday, a hydrogen peroxide leak from a tanker at a paper mill near Rajamahendravaram in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district triggered a rapid emergency response. The incident occurred at a facility owned by Andhra Paper Limited, where the chemical reportedly leaked from a Gujarat-registered tanker carrying approximately 26 tonnes of hydrogen peroxide. Upon receiving the alert, emergency response teams from the Fire Department were immediately dispatched to the site. Three fire engines—two from Rajamahendravaram and one from Kovvur—along with the paper mill’s in-house fire team, worked promptly to neutralize and dilute the leaked chemical.

Fortunately, no injuries or health-related issues were reported, and the situation was brought under control relatively quickly. Local administrative officials, including RDO R. Krishna Naik and Deputy Inspector of Factories K. Krishnamurthy, conducted an on-site inspection to assess the extent of the leak and to ensure that all safety protocols were being followed. The operation was closely supervised by District Fire Officer Martin Luther King, Assistant District Fire Officer, and District Industries Officer Vanidhar Raman, ensuring that the emergency was handled effectively and efficiently.

Although this incident resulted in no casualties, it has raised concerns as it adds to a growing list of industrial accidents in Andhra Pradesh and neighboring Telangana. Over the past few months, several serious industrial mishaps have been reported in the region, highlighting safety lapses and raising alarms about industrial regulatory practices.

One of the deadliest such incidents occurred on June 30 at Sigachi Industries’ chemical plant located in Pashamylaram, in Telangana’s Sangareddy district. A massive explosion rocked the facility, killing at least 40 workers and critically injuring 33 others. It is being regarded as one of the worst industrial disasters in the region’s recent history. Initial reports indicated that a chemical reaction might have caused the blast, and authorities are currently investigating the cause and any lapses in safety norms.

Before that, on May 19, a fire broke out at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant after around 300 tonnes of molten steel accidentally spilled from a ladle. Although this incident did not result in any casualties, it once again exposed potential gaps in operational safety and risk management procedures within large industrial establishments.

Even earlier, on April 13, another tragic industrial accident occurred in Anakapalli district when a fire and explosion broke out at a fireworks manufacturing unit. That incident led to the deaths of eight workers and left seven others seriously injured. The factory was reportedly operating with inadequate safety measures and insufficient oversight.

These repeated incidents suggest a worrying trend of industrial safety being compromised, either due to outdated infrastructure, human error, or a lack of stringent safety protocols. Experts and authorities are calling for stricter enforcement of industrial regulations, comprehensive audits, and regular safety drills to avoid such tragedies in the future. While the hydrogen peroxide leak at Andhra Paper Limited did not result in loss of life, it underscores the urgent need for heightened vigilance in managing hazardous materials and ensuring workplace safety across all industrial units in the region.