A devastating explosion at the Sigachi Industries pharmaceutical plant in Pashamylaram, near Hyderabad, Telangana, on Monday, June 30, 2025, has resulted in at least 13 fatalities and 34 injuries. The blast, believed to have been triggered by a chemical reaction, occurred at approximately 9:30 AM IST, sending shockwaves through the facility and causing the collapse of the production unit housing the reactor.
The intensity of the explosion was such that some workers were thrown as far as 100 meters away from the site. Emergency services were alerted at 9:37 AM, prompting the deployment of 15 fire tenders from various stations to combat the ensuing blaze. Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were also involved in the rescue operations.
According to NDRF Deputy Commander Damodar Singh, many workers were trapped under the rubble, and rescue teams managed to pull out around 30 workers, with approximately 25 of them being rushed to nearby hospitals with varying degrees of burns and injuries. Firefighters worked to contain the fire while rescue teams searched for survivors amidst the debris. The efforts to completely remove the debris and search for any remaining trapped individuals are still underway.
The incident has left the surrounding community in shock and alarm, with police cordoning off a 500-meter radius around the site. The Sangareddy Superintendent of Police, Paritosh Pankaj, confirmed 15 deaths and indicated the possibility of more casualties beneath the rubble. Due to the severity of the burns, DNA testing has been ordered to identify the deceased. As of Monday, only three bodies had been identified, with six requiring DNA profiling and three awaiting removal from the debris.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Telangana government has formed a five-member committee, headed by Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao, to investigate the cause of the explosion and oversee the rescue efforts. The committee is also tasked with recommending measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who expressed deep shock over the accident, is expected to visit the site and has directed officials to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured. The committee includes the Special Chief Secretary for Disaster Management, Principal Secretary of the Labour Department, Health Secretary, and Additional Director General of Fire Services.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families. He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Sigachi Industries has announced that the Pashamylaram unit is fully insured and that the company is providing support to the affected families. The company anticipates a 90-day pause in production to facilitate the replacement and restoration of affected equipment and structures. They have also expressed commitment to resuming operations with enhanced safety measures.
The industrial areas surrounding Sangareddy and Pashamylaram have a history of reactor incidents. Past incidents include a blast at a pharma plant in Sangareddy that resulted in six deaths and 14 injuries, and a chemical reactor explosion in Pashamylaram in 2023 that claimed the lives of three workers.
