
Angry families confront officials at Sigachi blast site, demand faster debris clearance
When AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud and Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha visited the site, they were confronted by families who blocked their vehicles and sought answers about the missing.
Rajanarsimha stepped out to reassure the crowd, urging patience as debris removal continued. However, frustration mounted again later in the day, with some workers threatening to clear the rubble themselves. 'What are you doing for the past three days? How can you fail to remove debris even after using JCBs?' one of them asked.
Industry vice-chairman Chidambaranathan assured that required assistance would be extended to the victims and their families. Likewise, Natarajan, Mahesh and Rajanarsimha said the government would provide support to victims.

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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Angry families confront officials at Sigachi blast site, demand faster debris clearance
SANGAREDDY: The atmosphere at the factory turned tense on Wednesday as relatives demanded clear information about their loved ones. When AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud and Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha visited the site, they were confronted by families who blocked their vehicles and sought answers about the missing. Rajanarsimha stepped out to reassure the crowd, urging patience as debris removal continued. However, frustration mounted again later in the day, with some workers threatening to clear the rubble themselves. 'What are you doing for the past three days? How can you fail to remove debris even after using JCBs?' one of them asked. Industry vice-chairman Chidambaranathan assured that required assistance would be extended to the victims and their families. Likewise, Natarajan, Mahesh and Rajanarsimha said the government would provide support to victims.


Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Telangana factory blast: Sigachi accident deadliest to hit India's pharma sector in 100 years; NDRF terms it 'most challenging'
HYDERABAD: The Sigachi Industries blast in Sangareddy is the worst disaster to have rocked India's pharma manufacturing sector in its over 100-year history in terms of fatalities. Such was the impact of the blast that it not only knocked down the factory but also resulted in damages to factories located next door, including shattered glass, industry sources said. Till Monday, the blast and fire at Escientia Bio Pharma Ltd's factory at Anakapalli in Andhra Pradesh (AP) on August 21, 2024, which left 17 people dead, was counted as the worst incident to have hit the industry. In 2023, a blast had rocked the Atchutapuram plant of Sahiti Pharma in AP and left behind seven fatalities. In Dec 2022, four employees had died at Laurus Labs' facility at Visakhapatnam. "In my 35 years of experience as a regulator as well as former director general of Pharmexcil (Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India), I have never come across a pharma manufacturing accident with such a huge death toll. This has to be the largest pharma disaster in the country till date," Ravi Udaya Bhaskar, director general, All India Drugs Control Officers Confederation told TOI. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Rescue efforts inadequate: Kin of missing staff Around 200 personnel from fire services, SDRF, along with 30 NDRF personnel, have conducted a comprehensive search of the wreckage. They have found no trace of any missing persons, said Y Nagi Reddy, director general, Telangana state fire services and disaster response. He added: 'The company management claims that only five are missing. It could be the missing workers did not report to work on Monday or were not on campus at the time of the accident. We are verifying their whereabouts.' Authorities are also not ruling out the possibility that the missing persons could be among the dead who had not been identified as yet. By Tuesday evening, identity of 14 bodies had been confirmed at the govt area hospital in Patancheru. Blood samples of the remaining were sent for DNA profiling to the forensic science laboratory to establish their identity, as they have been burnt beyond recognition. Challenging operation, say NDRF teams 'Both National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are still working at the site to clear the debris and hazardous material,' said Damodar Singh, assistant commandant (Telangana region) with NDRF, adding how the operation has been one of the most challenging rescue missions undertaken in the state. 'Our teams employed cutting equipment to break down the debris into smaller bits before clearing it with JCBs. The most demanding aspect is careful removal of debris while recovering bodies. It might take another day to completely clear out the debris and recover bodies that may have been trapped beneath the debris,' he said. NDRF officials also explained how the presence of hazardous substances hindered their operation, as the material caused metallic flames. 'The factory's 'pancake-style' collapse (where a building collapses floor by floor) has resulted in continuous flames erupting from under the wreckage,' said a senior official from NDRF. The kin of missing workers, however, claimed that the rescue efforts were inadequate. They alleged that the equipment and workforce at the location were insufficient, resulting in prolonged delays in retrieving the bodies. 'Authorities deployed only two JCBs which are not enough to locate so many missing people,' said K Sujatha, relative of a 22-year-old youth who is still missing. 'We visited four different hospitals too to verify if he was receiving treatment or was sent for post-mortem, but in vain.' Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!


Time of India
18-06-2025
- Time of India
‘Blatant violation of democracy': TPCC chief Mahesh Goud testifies in Telangana phone tapping probe; Congress, BJP, TDP leaders targeted
HYDERABAD: TPCC president and MLC B Mahesh Kumar Goud on Tuesday accused the previous BRS govt of orchestrating a wide-ranging illegal phone tapping operation to suppress opposition voices and manipulate election outcomes. Mahesh Goud gave his statement as a witness in the phone tapping case being probed by the special investigation team and recorded his deposition before Jubilee Hills ACP P Venkatagiri. He alleged that over 650 political functionaries, including leaders from the Congress, BJP, and TDP, were targeted by the special operations team (SOT) at the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) office between 2017 and 2023. "The officials informed me my number too was under surveillance. I've given a full statement without reservations," Mahesh Goud told the media. Calling it a "blatant violation of democratic norms," he demanded that cases be registered against former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, BRS working president KT Rama Rao, and senior bureaucrats who, he alleged, facilitated the digital surveillance. He pointed out that the mass interception of calls, messages, and chats undermined the Congress campaign during 2018 polls. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Altenpfleger verrät: So zahlt die Pflegekasse Ihren Treppenlift Checkfox | Treppenlift Check Undo Sources said CM A Revanth Reddy and his family members' statements are also likely to be recorded by cops in connection with the case. Mahesh Goud claimed that the then chief secretary Somesh Kumar ignored warnings from him and then TPCC chief Revanth about tapping of their phones. He alleged that T Prabhakar Rao was installed as SIB chief to execute covert operation and that key hard disks were destroyed after the Congress came to power in Dec 2023. "They tried to brand us Naxalite sympathisers. It was a plot to smear us," he said. A SIT officer said over 4,000 phones were intercepted in Nov 2023. "We are recording statements from those whose numbers were tapped. None had any involvement in activities warranting surveillance," he noted. Congress Rajya Sabha MP M Anil Kumar Yadav, who also recorded his statement, said, "This explains how police placed us under house arrest every time we planned a protest." "Police will record statements from businessmen whose cash was seized based on intercepted calls, to verify whether the funds were legally accounted for," said an official.