Telangana: Death toll rises to 34 in Sigachi Pharma factory blast, rescue operations continue

HORNBILL TV

The death toll from the explosion at Sigachi Pharma Industries in Telangana’s Sangareddy district has risen to 34, officials confirmed on Tuesday, as rescue operations continue at the blast site.

Sangareddy (Telangana) [India], July 1 (HBTV): The death toll from the explosion at Sigachi Pharma Industries in Telangana’s Sangareddy district has risen to 34, officials confirmed on Tuesday, as rescue operations continue at the blast site.

The explosion occurred on Monday at a chemical factory in the Pasamailaram Phase 1 industrial area, injuring over a dozen workers, according to local officials.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia of INR 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and INR 50,000 for each of the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

Union Minister and Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy offered full support to the state government in its relief efforts.'NDRF, police, and other agencies are engaged in relief operations. Central financial assistance of INR 2 lakh each will be given to families of the deceased persons and INR 50,000 to the injured,' Reddy told reporters.'The BJP never does politics on such issues. We will fully cooperate in relief activities. The state government should take all necessary steps to prevent such accidents,' he added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed grief over the tragedy.'Saddened by the tragic accident in a chemical factory in Sangareddy, Telangana. The NDRF team rushed to the spot immediately and is continuing the rescue operation along with the local administration,' Shah posted on X.'My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. Praying for the swift recovery of those injured,' he added.

On Monday, Director General of the Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services, Y Nagi Reddy, said rescue officials were still unsure of how many people remained trapped under the debris.

'Today, at around 9:48 am, there was a blast in the drying unit at Sigachi Pharma Company. The explosion led to a fire. A total of 12 people have died and 35 are injured in the incident,' Nagi Reddy said during a visit to the site.'As per industrial experts, the incident happened during the air handling and drying of Microcrystalline cellulose. We are currently unsure of the number of people under the debris,' he added.

Rescue operations remain underway.

(ANI)