Telangana Factory Blast Toll Climbs to 42; Probe On, PM Announces Ex-Gratia

Credits: PTI

Reactor explosion at Sigachi Industries triggers massive blaze; CM Revanth Reddy to visit the site

The toll of the chemical plant blast in Telangana’s Sangareddy district has increased. The toll climbed up to 42 on Tuesday as more people were recovered from under the debris during the rescue operations. The explosion occurred at the Sigachi Industries factory in Pashamylaram, approximately 40 km from Hyderabad, on Monday.

Most of the victims were stuck under the shed after a suspected reactor blast initiated by fire and the collapse of the structure.

90 Employees Inside at the Time of the Blast

Some bodies have been retrieved from under the debris as the clearing of the debris is ongoing. The operation’s last stage is continuing,” said Sangareddy superintendent of police Paritosh Pankaj.

At the time of the explosion, nearly 90 workers were present at the site. Telangana health minister Damodar Rajanarasimha said the force of the blast was so severe that some workers were thrown almost 100 meters away. At least 10 bodies were recovered in the immediate aftermath.

Recurring Safety Lapses Under the Lens

The Pashamylaram industry has witnessed several deadly accidents over the last few years. In 2023, a reactor explosion in one of the other factories killed three workers. Six were killed and 14 injured in a similar blast at Sangareddy in 2022.

The Sigachi explosion has been investigated by authorities. Potential safety breaches and technical failures are being reviewed. The factory has been instructed to shut down operations until a thorough inspection is done.

Rescue operations are being conducted by teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Hyderabad Disaster Response and Fire Services (HYDRAA), and the state fire department.

Leaders Show Sorrow, Relief Announced

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is likely to visit the spot. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma expressed condolences over the deaths caused by the incident. He ordered labor and factory authorities to provide all possible assistance to the families of the victims.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a tweet on X, expressed anguish at the loss of life and condoled the victims. He declared ₹2 lakh as ex gratia to the next of kin of each of the dead and ₹50,000 to those who were injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.