Tragic Explosion in Telangana Chemical Factory Claims Lives and Injures Many

Devastating Incident in Sangareddy District

A catastrophic explosion at a chemical manufacturing facility in Telangana's Sangareddy district resulted in the deaths of 13 workers and left 35 others injured on Monday.

The incident took place at a chemical plant located in the Pashamylaram industrial area, approximately 50 kilometers from Hyderabad.

The blast at Sigachi Chemicals caused a three-story building to collapse and ignited a significant fire.

Authorities fear that the death toll may increase as several workers are believed to be trapped beneath the rubble. Many of the injured have been rushed to various hospitals, with 12 in critical condition.

The explosion occurred around 9:30 a.m. in the Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) drying unit, and rescue operations were ongoing into the night.

Witnesses reported that the force of the explosion hurled workers into the air, causing them to land several meters away.

Firefighters, with the assistance of eleven fire engines, managed to control the blaze. Police and emergency services were actively involved in rescue and relief efforts.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), were also on the scene to assist.

Eight workers died instantly, while five others passed away in hospitals. Among the deceased was the company's vice-president, M. E. Elanghovan.

At the time of the explosion, there were 108 workers present at the factory. Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha, who visited the site, noted that most workers were able to escape.

The workforce included migrant laborers from states such as Bihar, Punjab, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh.

The explosion and subsequent fire caused widespread panic among employees in the chemical plant and neighboring factories.

Minister Narasimha stated that the cause of the explosion remains undetermined. The factory, which has been operational for 40-45 years, specializes in the production of Microcrystalline Cellulose.

Labour Minister G. Vivek reported that 12 of the injured were on ventilators due to severe respiratory issues. He confirmed that the factory manager was among the fatalities, and important worker records were lost in the fire.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the explosion was not due to a reactor blast, but rather a malfunction in the air dryer system.

This disaster is considered one of the most severe in the state's history, leading to protests from the victims' families who claim inadequate safety measures contributed to the tragedy.

Relatives of missing workers protested outside the factory, demanding updates on their loved ones, which resulted in clashes with police.

Director General of Fire Services Nagi Reddy and HYDRAA Commissioner A. V. Ranganath were present at the scene, along with Sangareddy district Collector P. Pravinya and Superintendent of Police Paritosh Pankaj overseeing the rescue operations.

President Droupadi Murmu expressed her sorrow over the incident, offering condolences to the grieving families and wishing for the swift recovery of the injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress over the loss of life in this tragic event, extending condolences to the bereaved families and praying for the injured's recovery.

He announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the families of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed his shock at the incident, offering condolences and assuring support for the victims.

He directed the Health Minister, Chief Secretary, and DGP to mobilize all necessary resources for rescue and relief efforts.

A high-powered committee has been established to investigate the disaster and its causes, comprising key officials from various departments.

The committee will also provide recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Chief Minister plans to visit the hospital and meet with the victims' families on Tuesday.

Governor Jishnu Dev Varma conveyed his deep sorrow over the tragedy, extending condolences to the families of the deceased and wishing a quick recovery for the injured.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, described the fire accident as profoundly tragic, offering heartfelt condolences to those affected and hoping for the injured's speedy recovery.

AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his deep anguish over the loss of lives, extending condolences to the bereaved families and wishing the injured a swift recovery.