Five workers dead, over 10 injured in boiler explosion at Sri City SEZ facility
Five workers were killed and more than 10 others were injured in a boiler explosion at Tablets India Limited (TIL), a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit located within the Sri City Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Satyavedu mandal of Tirupati district, at around 8 a.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The cause of the explosion is yet to be determined.
Victims identified
Authorities identified the deceased as:
– Gourab Roy (35), a native of West Bengal
– Chinna Mastan (48), from Cheviri village in Andhra Pradesh
– Ramesh (52), from Madharapakkam in Tamil Nadu
– Mohan (28), the boiler operator and a native of Naidukuppam in Tamil Nadu
– Vasu (32), from Tada in Andhra Pradesh
Officials said four workers died at the scene of the blast, while one succumbed to injuries later in hospital. Vasu was initially shifted to a hospital in Chennai for advanced care but did not survive. The exact sequence of fatalities at the spot and in hospital is being verified as part of the official inquiry.
Rescue and medical response
District Collector S. Venkateswar and Superintendent of Police L. Subbarayudu reached the site soon after the incident to oversee rescue and relief operations. Emergency response teams, medical personnel, and local officials were deployed to the facility to assist the injured and secure the area.
Tirupati District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) Dr. Balakrishna Naik informed state authorities that relief measures were initiated immediately after the accident. The bodies of the deceased were shifted for post-mortem examinations: those of Gourab and Mohan were moved to Sullurpeta Government Hospital, while the bodies of Chinna Mastan and Ramesh were taken to Satyavedu Government Hospital.
Among the injured, a woman identified as Krishnaveni (38) sustained a leg injury and received emergency treatment at the accident site; her condition is stable, officials said. Two other workers, Ramu and Lakshmamma, who were present at the time of the explosion, were medically examined and found to be unharmed.
Government response and relief
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed the district administration to provide all necessary support to the victims and their families and to expedite relief and rehabilitation measures. Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav spoke with DMHO Dr. Naik and instructed officials to ensure that the injured received quality medical care.
The District Collector announced an ex gratia payment of ₹50 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased worker, adding that the assistance would be disbursed within the next two days. The Sri City SEZ management committed to bearing the educational expenses of the children of the deceased, while eligible family members were assured employment opportunities within Sri City.
Investigation and accountability
Authorities said a preliminary case had been registered against those responsible for the incident. A special investigation team comprising senior officials from the Boiler, Factories, Industries, and Police departments has been constituted to determine the cause of the explosion and fix responsibility. The Collector stated that strict action would follow based on the team’s findings.
Orders were also issued to suspend the Tirupati Boiler Inspector for negligence in discharging his duties. The Collector noted that this was the first such accident reported in Sri City since its inception, and instructed that an immediate, third-party safety audit be conducted across all industries in the zone to prevent similar incidents.
Company and SEZ statements
TIL Director Ajay Kumar expressed condolences and pledged full cooperation with government authorities. “We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident and the tragic loss of our colleagues. We are committed to fully cooperating with the government authorities and all concerned agencies in conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident,” he said.
“At this difficult time, our immediate priority is to support the affected employees and their families, and we will extend all necessary assistance to them. We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety across our operations,” Mr. Kumar added.
Ravindra Sannareddy, Managing Director of Sri City, said, “This is the first such incident in Sri City’s 18-year history. Comprehensive safety audits have been conducted after the recent Visakhapatnam boiler incident, with continued safety monitoring. Our teams are working to ensure that every possible support reaches those affected.”
What’s next
With the cause of the blast still unknown, the special inquiry team will examine compliance with boiler safety and industrial protocols at the TIL facility and review recent maintenance and inspection records. The district administration has said additional safety checks across units in Sri City will begin immediately, alongside the support and compensation process for affected families.
Conclusion
The deadly explosion at TIL has triggered an urgent multi-agency response, from emergency medical support and compensation to a wider safety review across Sri City’s industrial units. As families grieve and injured workers recover, the outcome of the official inquiry will be critical in assigning accountability and shaping stronger safety safeguards in one of Andhra Pradesh’s key industrial hubs.
