The death toll from the devastating explosion at a pharmaceutical factory in Telangana’s Sangareddy district climbed to 32 on Tuesday, following the overnight deaths of 15 more injured workers.
The incident, which occurred on Monday morning at Sigachi Industries Limited in the Pashamylaram industrial area, is now considered one of the worst industrial tragedies in the state.
Rescue efforts are ongoing as authorities fear the toll may rise further. Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), revenue officials, and police continue to search through the rubble of the collapsed three-storey building.
27 workers are still unaccounted for and are feared trapped under debris.
The explosion originated in the Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) drying unit of the factory, located around 50 km from Hyderabad.
The blast injured 35 people, of whom 11 are reported to be in critical condition.
At the time of the incident, 108 workers were on-site. Most of them were migrant laborers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha. The force of the explosion was so intense it could be heard up to five kilometers away, triggering a large fire that took 15 fire engines to bring under control.
Eyewitnesses described the sheer force of the blast, with some workers flung through the air and landing several meters from the factory. Many victims were either blown apart or severely burned, making identification difficult. DNA testing is now underway to confirm their identities.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is scheduled to visit the blast site on Tuesday and meet the injured at a government hospital. Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha, who inspected the site on Monday, said the cause of the explosion remains unknown. He noted that the company, established over four decades ago, specialises in producing Microcrystalline Cellulose.
Labour Minister G. Vivek clarified that initial findings indicate it was not a reactor explosion. “Some problem in the air dryer system is believed to have resulted in the explosion and fire,” he stated.
In response to the tragedy, the state government has established a high-powered committee to investigate the incident and suggest measures to prevent such accidents in the future. The panel includes the Chief Secretary, Special Chief Secretary (Disaster Management), Principal Secretaries of Labour and Health, and the Additional Director General of Fire Services.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the committee will thoroughly probe the cause of the disaster and provide recommendations to enhance industrial safety protocols and prevent a recurrence.