A tragic incident unfolded in the Sangareddy district of Telangana on Monday morning, June 30, where a massive explosion at Sigachi Pharma Industries claimed at least 37 lives.
Incident at a Glance
Residents of Isnapur, nearly 2 km from the site, were startled by a loud blast that echoed through their area. The incident reportedly occurred between 8:15 and 9:35 AM. Within 10 minutes, police were informed and reached the location in 20 minutes. Eleven fire engines from multiple stations, along with local fire teams, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), also arrived.
Authorities suspect it to be a chemical blast inside the factory, where around 150 workers are employed. Nearly 90 of them were reportedly present in the affected unit.
Several Dead, Many Injured
Rescue operations began immediately, and the injured were rushed to different hospitals to ensure timely treatment.
A hospital in Miyapur confirmed receiving 21 patients with severe burns and injuries on Monday. Two were declared dead on arrival, and one more died the next morning.
Another hospital in Patancheru said they received 11 patients. Two were referred to a superspeciality hospital. Among the rest, five are on ventilators, and seven have burns ranging from 10% to 80%.
The Area Hospital in Patancheru continued to receive the remains of victims through the night. Fears are growing that the death toll may rise further as the rescue operation continues.
Relief Funds Announced
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and announced ₹2 lakh for families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.
Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy also announced ₹1 lakh for each deceased’s family and ₹50,000 for those injured. Additionally, families of deceased workers will receive ₹1 crore, while ₹10 lakh will be given to each injured worker as compensation.
Calling the incident one of the worst industrial tragedies the state has seen, CM Reddy slammed the Sigachi management and promised strict action.
Investigation Underway
According to PTI, the district police have registered an FIR under Sections 105, 110, and 117 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), dealing with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, attempt to commit culpable homicide, and voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
The CM added that those responsible will be identified and held accountable. He also mentioned plans to introduce a transparent policy to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Not the First Time
This is not the first such blast in Sangareddy. A previous explosion at another pharma unit killed six and injured 14. In 2023, a similar incident in Pashamylaram claimed three lives.
Latest Updates
Twelve individuals are still missing. Officials said only four of the deceased have been identified so far, and DNA testing is ongoing for the remaining 29, whose bodies were charred beyond recognition. Many victims are believed to be migrant workers from West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar.
Looking Ahead
Rescue efforts are still underway, and the death toll may rise. DNA tests are being used for identification, and families of the deceased are demanding accountability. This incident in Telangana has raised serious concerns about worker safety and the need for stronger industrial safety norms.
(Rh/Pooja Bansal/MSM)