A blast at the Escientia pharmaceutical unit in Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh, killed 15 people and injured over 40 on Wednesday. The explosion occurred during the lunch hour, catching many workers off guard. Emergency services, including firefighters and police, responded quickly. The source of the blast is still unknown. The Anakapalli District Collector confirmed that 13 people trapped in the unit were rescued. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed his condolences and assured support for the families of the victims. The government is working to save those seriously injured in the explosion.

A four-year-old girl in Badlapur is in shock after being sexually assaulted by a school cleaner. The incident occurred on August 13, but police only filed the FIR three days later after the family waited 12 hours at the station. The family suspects more children were abused but fear is stopping them from speaking out. The school claims its CCTV system was down, raising concerns about evidence tampering. The accused cleaner was arrested, and three school staff members were suspended. The community protested, leading to the suspension of three police officers.

A devastating fire at the Escientia Advanced Sciences pharmaceutical plant in Anakapalle district, Andhra Pradesh, claimed 13 lives and injured 17 others. The incident occurred at 2 p.m. in the Achutapuram Special Economic Zone and is suspected to have been caused by an electrical issue, not a reactor blast as initially reported. Around 30 injured individuals were taken to nearby hospitals. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed sorrow over the loss of lives, assuring support for the victims' families. This marks the third fatal incident in the SEZ area in recent months.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi criticized police inaction in the Badlapur sexual assault case, highlighting the twelve-hour delay in filing an FIR after a complaint was lodged. Gandhi expressed concern over rising crimes against women and condemned efforts to conceal crimes rather than seeking justice. He questioned why protests are needed to even register a complaint, referencing other cases in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. Gandhi emphasized that all governments and citizens must work together to create a safer environment for women, asserting that justice should not depend on the whims of the police and administration.

The Centre has written to the West Bengal government, seeking the deployment of CISF forces at Kolkata’s R G Kar Hospital after the rape and murder of a young doctor on the hospital premises triggered nationwide protests. Junior doctors have been on strike for thirteen days, affecting healthcare services at state-run hospitals. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has continued questioning the hospital’s sacked principal, Dr. Sandip Ghosh, for the sixth day, with a possible polygraph test ahead. Despite state government requests, junior doctors have refused to return to work, demanding safety and justice for their colleague.

An explosion at Escientia, a pharmaceutical firm in Atchutapuram SEZ, Andhra Pradesh, killed 4 people and injured over 20 on Wednesday. The blast occurred during lunch hour, catching employees off guard. Superintendent of Police Deepika Patil confirmed the death toll and stated rescue operations are ongoing as smoke and flames still engulf the building. The explosion happened at the reactor site, but not inside the reactor itself. The injured have been taken to Anakapalli NTR Hospital and nearby private hospitals. Emergency services, including firefighters and police, are at the site. Efforts continue to rescue those trapped inside.

Protests erupted in Badlapur, Maharashtra, after two kindergarten girls were sexually assaulted at their school. Relatives of a four-year-old survivor revealed the child remains in shock and suspect the accused cleaning staff member, Akshay Shinde, may have abused other girls. Parents had previously informed a teacher of Shinde’s misconduct, but no action was taken. The school's CCTV system was reportedly non-functional for fifteen days, raising concerns about tampering with evidence. Police delayed filing an FIR, leading to public outrage and vandalism at the school, with three officers now suspended.

On Wednesday, the Indian Air Force (IAF) reported that one of its fighter aircraft accidentally released an “air store” near the Pokhran firing range due to a technical malfunction. This incident occurred during a routine operation. An “air store” generally refers to munitions or other equipment carried by aircraft. The IAF confirmed the incident via a social media post, assuring that no damage to life or property has been reported. The specific type of air store involved has not been disclosed. The IAF is reviewing safety protocols to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

A nationwide strike organized by Dalit and Adivasi groups against the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing the sub-classification of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) led to clashes in Patna, Bihar. The police used lathicharge to disperse protesters, with Deputy Superintendent Ashok Kumar Singh noting the use of “mild force” due to the unrest disrupting public travel. The Bharat Bandh, supported by 21 organizations including the Left parties, Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and Bahujan Samajwadi Party, had a varied impact. Protests affected road and rail services in Odisha, while the response was mixed in Rajasthan and Jharkhand.

Former RG Kar Medical College deputy superintendent Akhtar Ali has alleged that Dr. Sandip Ghosh, who resigned as the college principal after a rape and murder incident, was involved in several illegal activities. Ali claimed in an interview with India Today TV that Ghosh was engaged in selling unclaimed bodies and trafficking biomedical waste to Bangladesh. According to Ali, Ghosh was also implicated in illegal transactions involving medical supplies. These accusations come amid heightened scrutiny of RG Kar Medical College following the recent violent protests and allegations of misconduct at the institution.