New Delhi: The death toll in the explosion at a chemical plant in Telangana’s Medak district rose to 35 on Tuesday, even as rescue teams continued to sift through the rubble for survivors. The toll is expected to rise further. According to reports, many workers remain unaccounted for after the blast. The blast occurred on Monday morning at the Sigachi Industries facility in Pashamylaram, about 50km from Hyderabad.
The explosion was likely triggered by a dryer malfunction in the plant’s quality control unit. The force of the blast brought down a multi-storey structure, leaving several workers trapped under debris. Rescue operations led by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and fire services are under way.
Most victims are migrant workers
Among the deceased is the plant’s general manager A Loganan, who was reportedly in charge of attendance, making it difficult to determine exactly how many workers were inside at the time. Most of the victims are migrant workers from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal.
Several bodies have been burnt beyond recognition. Only four have been identified so far. Forensic teams and DNA specialists have been deployed to aid in identification. Post-mortem examinations are being conducted at the government hospital in Patancheru.
Chief minister A Revanth Reddy is expected to visit the hospital today and meet the victims’ families. He has ordered a high-level probe and formed a five-member committee to investigate the cause of the blast and recommend safety reforms.
Questions over industrial safety standards
Meanwhile, questions are being raised over industrial safety standards in Telangana. According to a TOI report, this is the tenth major explosion in the state in the past 30 months, with the industrial zones of Pashamylaram and Patancheru witnessing repeated incidents. A flash fire at a pharmaceutical unit in IDA Bollaram just six months ago resulted in seven workers getting injured.
Sigachi Industries, which manufactures microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) had passed a safety inspection as recently as December 2024. However, authorities have ordered the immediate closure of the facility.
