The death toll in the massive explosion at Sigachi Industries’ chemical plant in Telangana’s Sangareddy district climbed to 34 on Tuesday, a day after the reactor blast ripped through the factory premises in Pashamylaram industrial area.
The blast, which triggered a large-scale collapse of the industrial unit and sparked a massive fire, occurred between 8:15 am and 9:35 am on Monday, prompting a multi-agency emergency response that continues into Tuesday.
On Monday, Telangana Health Minister had said: "As many as 12 people died and 34 people are under treatment. We are hopeful that there would be no more (deaths)." The toll has since sharply risen as bodies were recovered from the debris and several of the injured succumbed to their wounds.
Blast flattened structure; rescue ops ongoing
Fire department officials had confirmed that five bodies were initially recovered from the rubble, but that number steadily increased as rescue teams intensified their operations.
A fire alert was received at 9:37 am, after which 11 fire engines from multiple stations — including Patancheru, Sangareddy, Kukatpally, Madhapur, Jeedimetla, and Rajendranagar — were deployed to control the blaze.
In addition to local police and fire teams, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDF) units, and two fire-fighting robots were also mobilised. Fire personnel continued operations through Monday evening and resumed search efforts on Tuesday to check for any remaining survivors or bodies under the wreckage.
“There was a blast at Sigachi Pharma, a chemical production factory in Pasamailaram. The incident occurred around 8:15–9:35 am, and the police were informed within 10 minutes. We reached the spot within 20 minutes. NDRF, SDF, and other rescue teams, along with 10 fire engines, arrived at the scene. So far, six dead bodies have been found, and two people died while undergoing treatment at Chanda Nagar... Firefighting efforts are still ongoing, and the rescue operation is in progress,” said V Satyanarayana, Inspector General, Multi Zone II, on Monday, as quoted by ANI.
The factory had reportedly employed around 150 workers, with nearly 90 of them in the affected area when the explosion occurred.
Recurring reactor blasts raise safety concerns
Monday’s tragedy has drawn attention to a string of reactor-related industrial accidents in the region. The Sangareddy-Pashamylaram industrial corridor has witnessed fatal incidents previously, too — including a blast at a pharma unit in Sangareddy that killed six and injured 14, and another in 2023 in Pashamylaram that left three dead.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed deep sorrow over the latest incident and directed authorities to “take all necessary steps to rescue any workers still trapped.”
The opposition BJP, meanwhile, has demanded a probe into the causes of the explosion and called for accountability.
"The state government should provide good treatment to the injured. How did it happen? Who is accountable for it? Were the safety protocols followed? If such a blast occurs in a crowded place, then there are chances of more losses. There should be an investigation of the incident," said BJP MLA Payal Shankar, according to ANI.
The blast, which triggered a large-scale collapse of the industrial unit and sparked a massive fire, occurred between 8:15 am and 9:35 am on Monday, prompting a multi-agency emergency response that continues into Tuesday.
On Monday, Telangana Health Minister had said: "As many as 12 people died and 34 people are under treatment. We are hopeful that there would be no more (deaths)." The toll has since sharply risen as bodies were recovered from the debris and several of the injured succumbed to their wounds.
Blast flattened structure; rescue ops ongoing
Fire department officials had confirmed that five bodies were initially recovered from the rubble, but that number steadily increased as rescue teams intensified their operations.
A fire alert was received at 9:37 am, after which 11 fire engines from multiple stations — including Patancheru, Sangareddy, Kukatpally, Madhapur, Jeedimetla, and Rajendranagar — were deployed to control the blaze.
In addition to local police and fire teams, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDF) units, and two fire-fighting robots were also mobilised. Fire personnel continued operations through Monday evening and resumed search efforts on Tuesday to check for any remaining survivors or bodies under the wreckage.
“There was a blast at Sigachi Pharma, a chemical production factory in Pasamailaram. The incident occurred around 8:15–9:35 am, and the police were informed within 10 minutes. We reached the spot within 20 minutes. NDRF, SDF, and other rescue teams, along with 10 fire engines, arrived at the scene. So far, six dead bodies have been found, and two people died while undergoing treatment at Chanda Nagar... Firefighting efforts are still ongoing, and the rescue operation is in progress,” said V Satyanarayana, Inspector General, Multi Zone II, on Monday, as quoted by ANI.
The factory had reportedly employed around 150 workers, with nearly 90 of them in the affected area when the explosion occurred.
Recurring reactor blasts raise safety concerns
Monday’s tragedy has drawn attention to a string of reactor-related industrial accidents in the region. The Sangareddy-Pashamylaram industrial corridor has witnessed fatal incidents previously, too — including a blast at a pharma unit in Sangareddy that killed six and injured 14, and another in 2023 in Pashamylaram that left three dead.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed deep sorrow over the latest incident and directed authorities to “take all necessary steps to rescue any workers still trapped.”
The opposition BJP, meanwhile, has demanded a probe into the causes of the explosion and called for accountability.
"The state government should provide good treatment to the injured. How did it happen? Who is accountable for it? Were the safety protocols followed? If such a blast occurs in a crowded place, then there are chances of more losses. There should be an investigation of the incident," said BJP MLA Payal Shankar, according to ANI.
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