12 killed in explosion and fire at Indian pharmaceutical factory
New Delhi
Media outlets in India are reporting that at least 12 people have been killed in a huge explosion at a chemical plant in the south of the country.
Several people have also been injured, the NDTV broadcaster and other Indian media reported on Monday, citing authorities. The explosion triggered a major fire in an industrial area near the city of Hyderabad in the state of Telangana.
The fire department recovered the charred bodies of 10 workers in an industrial area about 50 kilometres (31 miles) from the state capital Hyderabad (31 miles), the state's fire services director GV Narayana Rao told The Associated Press.
Two other workers succumbed to burns and were pronounced dead at a hospital, Rao said, adding that debris of the gutted pharmaceutical unit of Sigachi Industries was being removed to find out if any more workers were trapped. Nearly three dozen injured workers were admitted to hospitals. he said. 'It was an explosion in a spray dryer unit of the factory, which is used to process raw material into fine powder for making drugs,' Rao said.
The cause was initially unclear. It is suspected that a chemical reactor exploded, the local newspaper the Deccan Chronicle, reported. Employees of the Sigachi company, which manufactures pharmaceutical and chemical products, were affected.
India is home to some of the world's top pharmaceutical companies, playing a pivotal role in the global supply of generic medicines and vaccines. The country's robust manufacturing and cost-effective production have made it a hub for pharma giants.
Industrial accidents, particularly involving chemical reactors, aren't uncommon in such factories, underlining the need for authorities to implement stringent safety protocols and regulatory oversight in a sector critical to public health.
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12 killed in explosion and fire at Indian pharmaceutical factory
agencies New Delhi Media outlets in India are reporting that at least 12 people have been killed in a huge explosion at a chemical plant in the south of the country. Several people have also been injured, the NDTV broadcaster and other Indian media reported on Monday, citing authorities. The explosion triggered a major fire in an industrial area near the city of Hyderabad in the state of Telangana. The fire department recovered the charred bodies of 10 workers in an industrial area about 50 kilometres (31 miles) from the state capital Hyderabad (31 miles), the state's fire services director GV Narayana Rao told The Associated Press. Two other workers succumbed to burns and were pronounced dead at a hospital, Rao said, adding that debris of the gutted pharmaceutical unit of Sigachi Industries was being removed to find out if any more workers were trapped. Nearly three dozen injured workers were admitted to hospitals. he said. 'It was an explosion in a spray dryer unit of the factory, which is used to process raw material into fine powder for making drugs,' Rao said. The cause was initially unclear. It is suspected that a chemical reactor exploded, the local newspaper the Deccan Chronicle, reported. Employees of the Sigachi company, which manufactures pharmaceutical and chemical products, were affected. India is home to some of the world's top pharmaceutical companies, playing a pivotal role in the global supply of generic medicines and vaccines. The country's robust manufacturing and cost-effective production have made it a hub for pharma giants. Industrial accidents, particularly involving chemical reactors, aren't uncommon in such factories, underlining the need for authorities to implement stringent safety protocols and regulatory oversight in a sector critical to public health.
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