35 Killed in Telangana Chemical Factory Blast, Rescue Ops Continue
The death toll from the devastating explosion at a chemical factory in Telangana’s Sangareddy district has risen to 35, with officials warning the number may increase as rescue efforts continue. The blast occurred on Monday at Sigachi Industries Limited’s pharmaceutical unit, around 50 km from Hyderabad, causing a three-storey building to collapse and sparking a massive fire.
At the time of the incident, 108 workers were inside the facility. Thirty-five others sustained injuries, with 11 reported to be in critical condition. Most of the victims were migrant labourers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha. Over 15 fire engines were pressed into service to douse the flames.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow and announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia for the kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the PM’s National Relief Fund. Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the swift deployment of NDRF teams, assisting in rescue operations alongside local authorities.
According to Telangana Fire Services Director General Y Nagi Reddy, the explosion occurred during air handling and drying of microcrystalline cellulose. The state government has formed a high-level committee to investigate the cause and recommend measures to prevent such industrial tragedies in the future.
