Toll In Telangana Factory Blast Climbs to 36, Whereabouts of 17 Others Still Unknown

The Wire

21 hours ago

Hyderabad: The death toll due to the explosion of a reactor at a Sigachi Industries plant in Pashamylaram, 40 kilometres away from here, climbed to 36 from the overnight figure of 12 as several bodies were recovered from under the debris at the site where the accident took place on Monday (June 30).
While five workers were found dead on the spot soon after the accident, Sangareddy police superintendent Paritosh Pankaj said on Tuesday that 'several bodies were found under the debris' as it was removed in the hours after the incident. He added that 'as many as 31 bodies were extricated,' bringing the toll to 36.
A total of 143 workers were on duty at the plant when the reactor exploded and a huge fire broke out at around 9:10 am.
The two-floor structure crashed under the impact of the explosion, leaving a large amount of rubble that was cleared painstakingly by multiple agencies, including teams of the national and state disaster response forces, the Singareni Collieries Company Limited and the fire service.
Chief minister Revanth Reddy, who visited the accident site this morning, told mediapersons that 33 workers were undergoing treatment in hospital while 57 others returned home safely.
The whereabouts of 17 persons were not known. The condition of seven among the injured was extremely critical.
Poignant scenes were witnessed at the factory and the mortuary of a government hospital at nearby Patancheru as hundreds of relatives of the blast's victims camped there to know the fate of their dear ones.
Only 13 bodies that were identified were handed over to relatives. All the remaining bodies were burnt beyond recognition.
Forensic experts from the Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad arrived in the morning to assist local doctors in post-mortem examinations and the collection of DNA samples.
DNA profiling was the only way to identify the charred bodies, it was said.
Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy (extreme right) with others during an inspection at the site of the explosion on July 1, 2025. Photo: PTI.
After inspecting the site, Reddy held a meeting with officials, where he sought a detailed report on the cause of the accident from experts. He asked the company's management to take responsibility and pay a compensation of Rs 1 crore to the next of kin of the deceased.
Those who were permanently disabled should be paid Rs 10 lakh and the injured Rs 50,000, Reddy said.
On behalf of the state government, he announced a payout of Rs 1 lakh as immediate relief for those who lost their relatives.
Reddy expressed anger that the company's top management did not turn up at the plant 24 hours after the accident. When a company official said that the founder and executive chairman was there on Monday, Reddy asked him to visit again and arrange relief for the victims' families.
'He cannot escape,' the chief minister said, adding to warn the management of the consequences of their 'negligence'.
Meanwhile, the police booked a case against the management under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder; Section 110, which pertains to attempts to commit culpable homicide; and Section 117, which regards voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
Reddy also fumed at government officials, asking them not to give 'imaginary replies' to his questions. He raised a volley of questions, including whether officials in charge of industries and the directorate of factories and boilers inspected the plant and whether they detected any malfunctioning.
Sigachi Industries announced a 90-day-long closure of the unit to allow restoration of the equipment and other infrastructure at the facility, which is one of the three it runs in the country.
The company's stocks dipped for the second straight day on Tuesday.
Among those who lost their lives was the company's vice-president (operations) E.M. Elanghovan and a young couple from Kadapa district who had married two months ago.
The husband Nikhil Reddy and his wife Sri Ramya were working different shifts at the same plant. On Monday, however, they were given the same shift.