The death toll from the explosion at the chemical plant in Telangana has now risen to 35, with bodies being pulled out from the debris as rescue operations continue. The blast, which occurred at Sigachi Industries’ plant in the Pashamylaram industrial area of Sangareddy district on Monday morning, caused a massive fire and structural collapse that left dozens injured and missing.
The explosion, believed to have originated from a reactor unit, led to a swift response from emergency services. The Fire and police departments, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDF), and two fire-fighting robots have been deployed to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts.
V Satyanarayana, Inspector General, Multi Zone II, stated that six bodies were initially recovered from the factory site, with two more deaths occurring during treatment. The death toll continued to rise as more bodies were discovered in the wreckage. Health officials initially reported 12 fatalities and over 30 injured, but these numbers have since increased.
The Telangana Fire Department received an alert at 9:37 am and dispatched 11 fire tenders from various stations to extinguish the flames. The plant, which employed around 150 workers, had approximately 90 individuals in the affected area at the time of the explosion. Images from the scene depict severe damage, with twisted metal, collapsed structures, and charred equipment visible.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy offered his condolences and instructed officials to prioritize the rescue of any remaining trapped workers and provide the injured with the best possible medical care. The tragedy has prompted calls for a thorough investigation into potential safety oversights by the opposition BJP, with MLA Payal Shankar questioning how such a catastrophic event could occur in an operational unit.
This latest incident adds to a series of industrial accidents in the Sangareddy-Pashamylaram corridor, highlighting the need for enhanced safety measures in the region. Previous incidents in 2023 resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, emphasizing the importance of addressing safety concerns in industrial facilities to prevent future tragedies.
