The Telangana Pollution Control Board has ordered the immediate closure of Saraca Laboratories Ltd. after a chloroform vapour leak at the Hyderabad-area facility killed two people, with the power utility also directed to disconnect electricity to the unit.
The closure order was issued on Friday, October 23, following an inspection by TGPCB officials who examined the incident at the industry. The board said it acted without providing the company an opportunity of hearing because of the seriousness of the incident.
According to information provided to the pollution control officials by representatives of Saraca Laboratories, the leak occurred at around 11.30 pm on Thursday, October 22. Two people exposed to the vapours became unconscious and were shifted to Narayana Hospital, where the duty doctor declared them dead.
The incident occurred during the layer separation process while chloroform was being transferred from a reactor on the first floor to a receiver on the ground floor in production block-2, the officials were informed. The vapours then rapidly spread throughout the area, according to the account recorded during the inspection.
TGPCB has directed the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited to disconnect electricity supply to the industry. The order places the facility under an immediate operational stoppage while the regulatory action following the fatal leak takes effect.
The action highlights the role of pollution control authorities in responding to industrial incidents involving hazardous chemicals. In this case, the board’s order combines closure of the unit with a power disconnection directive, preventing normal operations at the facility after the reported release.
The supplied account does not provide details of the identities of the two deceased persons, the quantity of chloroform released, the wider impact beyond the production block, or any findings on the cause of the transfer failure. It also does not state how long the closure will remain in force or whether further directions will be issued after the inspection.
The immediate next step identified by the board is implementation of the closure order and disconnection of electricity supply to Saraca Laboratories Ltd. Further action will depend on the regulatory process following the inspection and the authorities’ assessment of the incident.
