A devastating explosion at a pharmaceutical plant in Telangana, India, has resulted in a rising death toll, reaching 38 as of Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon at the Sigachi Industries facility in the Pashamylaram industrial area, Sangareddy district, approximately 50km (31 miles) from Hyderabad. While government figures placed the toll at 36 earlier on Wednesday, one more body was recovered from the site, increasing the count. However, Sigachi Industries reported that it had lost 40 team members in the tragedy.
Rescue operations are still underway as authorities continue to search for the remaining missing individuals. Initial reports indicated 17 people were missing, but the exact number remains unclear amidst conflicting information. The state government has stated that 11 people are still missing. The challenging task of identifying victims is ongoing, with many bodies charred beyond recognition, requiring DNA testing. Twenty-five of the deceased were yet to be identified as of Tuesday.
The explosion's impact was immense, causing the collapse of the entire structure. The force of the blast was so intense that some workers were thrown approximately 100 meters away. Local residents reported hearing the explosion from several kilometers away. Approximately 143 people were working at the plant when the incident occurred; 58 have been identified as safe. In addition to the fatalities, 36 workers are hospitalized with burns and other injuries.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation. The blast occurred in the plant's spray dryer unit, which converts raw materials into powder for drug manufacturing. While the Factories Department is still collecting evidence, some experts suggest that a "dust explosion" may have been the cause, citing the distinct movement of the wavefront in footage of the blast site. Others initially suspected a reactor explosion. A senior rescue official suggested that pressure building up inside the spray dryer might have caused the blast.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Telangana government has taken several actions. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy visited the site, sought a detailed report on the accident, and instructed officials to conduct inspections of all chemical companies in the state. The government announced immediate assistance of Rs 1 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the families of those injured. Furthermore, the CM announced compensation of Rs 1 crore to the family members of the deceased, Rs 10 lakh to those severely injured, and Rs 5 lakh to those with partial burns. Sigachi Industries has also committed to an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 1 crore each to the families of the deceased, along with full medical and rehabilitation support for the injured.
The incident has raised concerns about industrial safety standards within India's rapidly growing pharmaceutical sector. Despite India's reputation as a global supplier of low-cost medicines and vaccines, fatal accidents at drug manufacturing units, particularly those handling chemicals or solvents, are not uncommon.
The Sangareddy police have registered an FIR against the factory management in connection with the explosion under Sections 105, 110, and 117 of the BNS, based on a complaint by a family member of one of the victims. The company has clarified that the accident was not caused by a reactor explosion and stated that plant operations will remain temporarily suspended for approximately 90 days.
The tragic event has prompted responses from other states as well. The Odisha government has sent officials to Telangana to coordinate rescue operations for Odia workers, as two workers from Odisha have died, and four more have been injured in the blast.
