An employee was killed and 12 others were injured in an explosion at Anjaneya Alloys inside AP SEZ near Atchuthapuram in the district early this morning.
Excessive gas eruption in a furnace caused the explosion, according to the preliminary probe.
The deceased was identified as B Biswas (40), who belonged to West Bengal. K Arun Kumar (25) and Lakshmana Rao (30) hailing from Bhogapuram were in a critical condition, police said. The injured were undergoing treatment at a private hospital here.
The plant manufactures ferro manganese. A worker had died at the plant a few months ago after an overhead crane fell on him.
Blaming the management for lack of safety measures, relatives of the injured and some workers staged a protest in front of the factory today.
Human resources minister Ganta Srinivasa, Anakapalle MP M Srinivasa Rao and Yelamanchili MLA P Ramesh Babu visited the injured at the hospital.
The minster said a series of industrial accidents in Vizag were a cause for concern and a high-power meeting with all concerned departments will be held soon.
Sub-inspector of Atchuthapuram police station S Sanyasi Rao and inspector of factories R Trinadha Rao registered cases and investigation was on.
Labour organisation CITU demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the relatives of the dead employee from the company.
