A devastating reactor explosion at the Sigachi Industries plant in Telangana's Pashamylaram industrial area on Monday morning has resulted in at least 12 fatalities and 34 injuries. The blast, which occurred between 8:15 AM and 9:35 AM, triggered a significant fire, prompting the deployment of multiple fire engines, robots, and rescue teams to the scene.

The explosion was so powerful that it caused the industrial structure to collapse, trapping many workers inside. Eyewitnesses reported that some workers were thrown nearly 100 meters away due to the intensity of the blast. According to sources, there were approximately 61 people in the building when the explosion occurred. Inspector General of Police V Satyanaryana stated that around 90 people were in the immediate vicinity of the blast at the time of the incident.

Firefighters and rescue personnel are continuing their efforts to clear the debris and search for any remaining trapped workers. Authorities have mobilized 11 fire engines from various stations, along with NDRF and SDRF teams, to combat the blaze and conduct rescue operations.

Telangana Health Minister Damodara Raja Narasimha confirmed the casualties and stated that the injured are receiving medical treatment. He also noted that 12 of the injured are in critical condition and are on ventilator support due to severe burn injuries affecting their respiratory systems. The minister, along with Labour Minister G Vivek Venkatswamy, visited the accident site to assess the situation. The Sangareddy district administration has been directed to provide all necessary medical support and relief measures to the victims.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the tragic incident and conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased. He announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of each deceased and ₹50,000 for those injured.

The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation. Preliminary investigations suggest that a pressure build-up in the drying unit of the plant may have triggered the blast. Y Nagi Reddy, Director General of the Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services, indicated that the explosion may have been caused by pressure building up during the drying process or a handling process, leading to the blasting of the material and the subsequent collapse of the industrial building.

Sigachi Industries has announced a temporary suspension of production at its Hyderabad plant for approximately 90 days to facilitate the replacement and restoration of affected equipment and structures. The company acknowledged the damage to the core manufacturing infrastructure and other ancillary equipment. They have assured that the facility is fully insured and that they are initiating the necessary claims. The company operates three manufacturing facilities for Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC), with the Hyderabad unit contributing approximately 6,000 MTPA to the total operating capacity.

This is not the first incident of its kind in the Sangareddy and Pashamylaram industrial belt, which has witnessed multiple reactor-related accidents in recent years. In a previous blast at a pharma plant in Sangareddy, six people died and 14 were injured. Another explosion in Pashamylaram in 2023 resulted in the death of three workers. These recurring incidents raise concerns about safety standards and the need for stricter regulations in the region's industrial sector.

Shares of Sigachi Industries plunged sharply following the explosion, with the stock hitting an intraday low of Rs 47 on the BSE, down 14.8%.

Political leaders have expressed their condolences and called for investigations into the incident. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed grief and directed officials to take all necessary steps to rescue any remaining trapped workers. The state opposition BJP has demanded an investigation into the incident.