An explosion at a pharmaceutical factory in the southern Indian state of Telangana has killed at least 40 and injured 33 others
The incident occurred on Monday 30 June at the Sigachi Industries plant in the southern Indian state of Telangana which produces microcrystalline cellulose, a chemical used in the pharmaceutical industry’s production of tablets and vitamin supplements.
Local news outlets reported that the four-storey building, where 140 people worked, was flattened by the explosion and workers were thrown hundreds of feet by its force. The majority of the victims were trapped under the production unit housing the reactor when it collapsed as a result of the blast.
As the cause of the explosion is investigated, the company denied reports that the reactor was to blame, and a senior rescue official, told the Indian Express newspaper "Pressure seems to have built up when the workers were operating the spray dryer.
"Fine dust chemical particles too accelerated the blast and the subsequent fire."
Sigachi executive Bhavani Chidambaranathan said, “At this point in time, our immediate priorities are centered around the safety of the employees who are injured seriously, providing their families assistance, legal compliance and also facilitating a transparent investigation”, with a fund for families affected being set up.
As reported by BBC News, many of the workers were migrants originally from states in north and east India. In a post on social media platform, X, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences and pledged an additional 200,000 rupees to each to the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees for those injured.
GV Narayana Rao, director of Telangana fire disaster response emergency, told Reuters:
"Once we are all done with the clearing, only then we will be able to assess if any other body is still remaining under the debris or if it is all clear.”
Telangana Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha told the Associated Press that as many of the bodies were “badly burned”, it was necessary to use DNA tests to identify remains, whilst those survivors suffered from inhaling poisonous fumes.
Chief minister of the state, A Revanth Reddy, has appointed a high-level committee to investigate the incident and uncover its underlying causes.