Latest news with #Sigachi
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Explained: The deadly dust that triggered Telangana's Sigachi factory explosion
New Delhi: A major explosion at a pharmaceutical facility in Pashamylaram, Sangareddy district of Telangana, claimed 44 lives, left 17 injured and 8 missing, according to official and news sources. The incident occurred on June 30, 2025, at the Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) drying/reactor unit of M/s Sigachi Industries Private Limited. Preliminary findings indicate a dust explosion triggered by a suspected pressure build-up in the spray dryer or air-handling system. Early investigations point to overheating, malfunctioning temperature sensors and alarms, and failures in safety instrumentation and monitoring. A dust explosion is caused by rapid combustion of fine particles suspended in the air in an enclosed environment. The explosion at the Sigachi unit involved MCC – a combustible particulate commonly used in pharmaceutical formulations. 'Overheated spray dryer due to inadequate airflow control and possible air handling system malfunction appears to be the primary trigger,' stated the case study by PNGRB. Other contributing factors include faulty sensors, ineffective alarms, and inadequate maintenance. Dust explosions generally require five conditions: fuel ( combustible dust ), oxidiser (air), dispersion (turbulence), confinement, and an ignition source such as hot surfaces or static electricity. The combination of these factors can lead to a rapid energy release, as demonstrated in this incident. The case study notes that process industries such as refineries, gas processing units and petrochemical plants are equally at risk from dust explosions, especially in catalyst handling units, coke handling systems, and sulphur recovery units. Safety recommendations include installation of dust suppression and extraction systems, explosion-proof electrical equipment, regular dust hazard analysis, proper grounding, and strict housekeeping and inspection protocols. 'The Sigachi Industries incident serves as a stark reminder of the catastrophic potential of dust explosions and the critical importance of robust process safety systems,' the report concludes, urging proactive hazard identification across industrial facilities. The incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of process safety standards across the country's industrial manufacturing sectors.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Telangana forensic lab identifies Sigachi blast victims with rapid DNA analysis
Hyderabad: In the aftermath of the Sigachi factory explosion at Patancheru in Sangareddy district, the challenge of identifying the victims fell to the Telangana Forensic Science Laboratory (TGFSL). What arrived at the lab were fragments—some as small as two to three inches—collected from the blast site. These included skull shards, tissue remnants, and scorched bone matter. From this devastation, forensic experts were able to identify 26 victims, delivering the first set of DNA identification reports within 16 hours—an unprecedented pace in such cases. TGFSL has proven it can locate victims in mass disasters on par with global standards. ' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo There is a general perception among both officers and the public that DNA reports get delayed. This case proves otherwise. Despite severe challenges, we delivered DNA results within 16 hours,' said Shika Goel, the Director-General of TGFSL. The team worked through the night following the receipt of the samples on the afternoon of the blast. By 5 a.m. the next day, matches were confirmed using DNA fingerprinting. 'Extraction of DNA was a big challenge,' the DG said. 'Our young scientists worked relentlessly. We were also getting anxious calls from the SP, while families waited desperately.' From the 77 samples received, five were found to be plastic materials mistakenly sent by police. Of the 72 viable human samples, 14 were entirely burnt and unusable for DNA extraction. From the remaining, 24 identifications were made quickly, and two more followed after extended analysis of human remains, bringing the total to 26. Eight victims, however, remain unidentified due to the absence of matching live samples or the complete destruction of biological material in the heat of the explosion. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Inside the lab G Pandu, assistant director of the DNA division, detailed the scientific procedures used to retrieve usable genetic material. 'We received various kinds of samples—tissue, broken bones, and partially burnt bones. The outer layers were removed, and reddish inner tissue was purified. Bone marrow and muscle tissue were also processed,' he said. The laboratory used autosomal STR (Short Tandem Repeat) analysis to establish genetic profiles. In cases requiring paternal confirmation, Y-STR sequencing was applied, while mitochondrial DNA sequencing supported maternal lineage identification. Specialised equipment was used to expedite the decalcification process—a step that normally takes 10 to 15 days. Bone fragments were crushed into powder to allow faster extraction and decalcification, enabling the team to isolate DNA even from fragments measuring just a couple of inches. Despite the challenges posed by severely degraded samples, the team's methods proved effective. 'Some of the samples were just 2 to 3 inches long—tiny fragments of skull bones—yet we could extract and identify DNA from them,' an official said. Missing eight: Unidentified and unsettled While 26 families have received clarity and closure, eight others are still waiting. These are the victims whose remains were either destroyed beyond recovery. Their status has implications beyond grief—compensation and legal formalities remain unresolved in the absence of formal identification. The TGFSL has demonstrated its ability to function under extreme conditions and at scale. Handling approximately 2,000 DNA cases annually, with an average of five samples per case, the Telangana laboratory also processes cases from other states including Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, as well as referrals from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Telangana will soon increase minimum wages: Minister Vivek Venkatswamy
SANGAREDDY: Labour Minister Vivek Venkatswamy on Wednesday announced the state government's decision to increase minimum wages in the state. Participating in the Indira Mahila Shakti celebrations organised in the district headquarters here, the minister said: 'In the last 12 years, minimum wages were not increased in the state. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy felt that there was a need to increase the wages as per the prevailing rates. Hence, the government constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee to look into this aspect. The committee will be submitting its report soon, following which the government will take a decision on raising minimum wages.' Workers paid poorly at Sigachi, says minister Referring to the recent explosion at the Sigachi Industries in Pashamylaram, in which several labourers were killed, the minister said: 'The government came to know that the workers at Sigachi were being paid very low wages. The government now wants to announce an increase in minimum wages.' Vivek, meanwhile, alleged that former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao promised to turn farmers into crorepatis but, in reality, it was his family members who became crorepatis. 'But our government has been taking all necessary steps to create crorepatis,' he said. Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha said the Congress governments always strive for women empowerment. 'In the undivided AP, former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy introduced 25 paise interest loans. That was followed by interest-free loans scheme introduced by another former CM Kiran Kumar Reddy. Now, Rs 20,000 crore loans are being given to women to help them become entrepreneurs,' he said. MLA P Sanjeeva Reddy, MLC Anji Reddy, Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) chairperson Nirmala Jayaprakash Reddy, District Collector P Pravinya and others participated in the programme.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Will move towards 5-day week: Labour minister G Vivek Venkataswamy
HYDERABAD: Labour minister G Vivek Venkataswamy said it was in the interest of IT workers that a decision was taken to allow for agreater number of working hours in a day. 'We would like to slowly move into a scenario akin to Western countries, where employees can get two weekend offs,' the minister said in a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan. By allowing commercialestablishments to provide for workers to work for 10 hours a day and a total of not more than 48 hours a week, employees have the opportunity to get extended weekends, he said. Answering questions, the minister said the govt will take action against those responsible in the Sigachi blast case in Patancheru industrial area. 'We are awaiting a report. But the labour department, which gave a report in December last year, clearly mentioned to the company what additional measures were needed for safety,' he said. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Vivek said the govt was keen on ensuring that gig workers get minimum wages and better working conditions. He said he has alreadydiscussed the matter with aggregators, and will also talk about it during a CII meeting later this month. The minister said the govt will come up with an Act keeping in mind the welfare of gig workers, also taking a cue from other states including Karnataka. The minister met the public at Gandhi Bhavan in a programme called 'Manthulatho Mukha Mukhi' initiated by TPCC President Mahesh Goud. He said some people from Vikarabad approached him, saying that pattas given to them during the previous Congress govt were cancelled by BRS.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- The Hindu
Sigachi Factory Blast: Telangana's Worst Industrial Disaster Raises Many Urgent Questions about Migrant Worker Safety
Published : Jul 10, 2025 16:21 IST - 13 MINS READ Even 10 days after the deadly blast at the Sigachi Industries in Pashamylaram in Sangareddy district of Telangana, disaster response staff continue to sift through the ash-filled debris for human remains. On June 30, an explosion at the multi-floored Sigachi factory engulfed its workers in a massive fire. The blast collapsed the building, trapping dozens of workers under the rubble. The devastating impact of the accident has left behind several fragmented and charred bodies, necessitating DNA analysis for identification. The survivors of the blast reported that there was no scope for escape. As many as 44 workers have been declared dead as of July 10, and over a dozen workers are undergoing treatment at various private hospitals. Of the 143 workers at the factory on the day of the accident, less than half (61) have been marked as safe. Eight workers remain classified as 'not traceable'. 'Missing workers haven't been declared dead yet. The company has paid an interim compensation of Rs. 15 lakhs. Rescue operations are ongoing and will continue until we confirm that there are no other human remains at the site,' Badugu Chandrashekar, additional collector of Sangareddy, told Frontline. Irfan Ansari, 22, from Deogarh district in Jharkhand, is presumed dead, but his remains haven't been found yet. Ansari's family has submitted DNA samples twice, but there hasn't been any match among the remains. The bureaucratic delays have left families distraught. 'What do they hope to find in the ashes? We have seen families receiving 10-15kg of human remains. It is painful to witness. The government should set a cut-off date for this search operation and declare him dead', Ansari's uncle, Salauddin, told Frontline. The government gave the families of missing workers the option to wait for the remains to be found or accept interim compensation and return to their homes. Even as they await closure, most have accepted the latter. The Government Area Hospital in Patancheru is coordinating the forensic investigations and handing over the bodies to the families. The hospital often admits injured workers from nearby industries, but nothing on the scale of the Sigachi accident has ever been witnessed before. This accident is being termed the worst industrial accident witnessed in Telangana (and possibly India) in recent times. Established in 1989, Sigachi Industries is a leading manufacturer of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a material commonly used by the pharmaceutical industry as a binder, disintegrant, filler, and lubricant. The company has clients in over 65 countries. In their press releases since the accident, the company claims that it has operated as an 'incident-free' unit for nearly 35 years. Also Read | What the Hyderabad fire tells us about how Indian cities are built to burn Questions persist over the cause of the accident as a government probe is expected to take some more time to submit a final report. On July 8, the National Disaster Management Authority visited the site for investigations. The fateful day Multiple senior officials, requesting anonymity, confirmed that the leading theory is that the explosion originated in the dryer. They also noted that the sensors seem to have failed to trigger the alarm systems. Sigachi Industries has yet to make a statement on the cause of the accident. 'Based on experience and existing literature, a primary explosion seems to have occurred within the spray dryer. The pressure wave and gases from that caused the dislodging of accumulated dust in different parts. The dispersed and airborne dust would have resulted in a dust explosion [secondary explosion]. The secondary explosion is often more destructive, and that led to the building's collapse', Kalapala Babu Rao, a retired scientist from the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, told Frontline. He has been studying industrial accidents and is a member of the Scientists for People coalition. 'In India, we have no regulations to handle combustible dust. What we need is regulation and continuous hazard monitoring', he added. 'What do they hope to find in the ashes? We have seen families receiving 10-15kg of human remains. It is painful to witness. The government should set a cut-off date for this search operation and declare him dead.' woker Irfan Ansari's uncle. Some experts believe that the maintenance issues could have been the trigger for the accident. 'At Sigachi, processing, packing, and quality control were all in the same building. The packing area on the ground floor had 30-35 people and most of them died. The quality control was on the first floor and had about five or six people', explained Y. Nagi Reddy, the Director General of Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services (TSDRFS). 'Industrial design plays a crucial role in ensuring worker safety,' he added. An FIR has been registered against Sigachi following complaints from a deceased worker's son. Venkat Jagan Mohan had been working at Sigachi for nearly two decades. His son, Sai Yashwanth, insists that his father and others had approached the Sigachi management several times to replace the 'old machinery'. The company has been booked under BNS sections 105 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), and 117 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt). Inadequate fire equipment and exits Meanwhile, a leaked inspection report from the Factories Department, dated December 2024, lists several lapses at Sigachi. The report highlighted inadequate fire equipment and fire exits, as well as the absence of rubber matting or insulation near the electrical panel board, loose and temporary electric wiring, the lack of automatic fire extinguishing appliances, and the absence of an inert gas suppression system to manage electrical emergencies. The report also mentioned the absence of personal protective equipment for workers and the lack of adequate and periodic training. The latter was confirmed by workers who reported having received limited training during the onboarding process. Some workers believed that they weren't handling 'chemicals'. When Frontline sought clarifications on the factory inspection, safety violations, and action initiated, the Director of the Factories Department declined to be interviewed, stating that 'This is not the right time to ask such questions'. TSDRFS officials confirmed to Frontline that the fire management systems at Sigachi were inadequate. The Pollution Control Board inspections appear to have been lax, as evidenced by the empty environmental display board at Sigachi, which is supposed to contain information about effluents, hazardous waste, and other key relevant details. In recent years, other similar accidents have spotlighted the issue of negligent and watered-down regulatory checks without much course-correction from successive governments. A chemical Explosion at SB Organics in Sangareddy district killed six and injured 19 on April 3, 2024. The Director of Factories constituted an eight-member committee. Babu Rao was one of them. Frontline accessed the draft Incident Investigation Report, in which experts noted that: 'There is no evidence that either the company or the regulatory bodies recognised the hazardous nature of the process being permitted and ensured needed safety measures. Our effort to investigate the incident faced the unavailability of needed process safety information from the company or the regulatory offices'. Officials have reportedly not signed the report, and thus, the recommendations made to avoid similar accidents were overlooked. The company paid a fine of Rs.31 lakh levied by the Telangana Pollution Control Board. The suo motu case at the National Green Tribunal was closed in March this year. While the Sigachi Industries lacked a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Fire Department, officials said that not all factories have NOCs. The NOC is conditional upon the height and type of the building, among other factors. Officials can't put an exact number on how many such factories might be operational, but said it would be in thousands. According to data shared by the TSDRFS, of the nearly 45 lakh buildings in Hyderabad (residential, industrial, commercial, and all other categories), the department has issued provisional NOCs to 7,555 and occupancy NOCs to 3,873 buildings. In November, at a seminar on Fire Safety, TSDRFS shared that in the pharma sector alone, there were nearly 100 major fire accidents in Telangana. Even where Fire NOCs exist, the department doesn't have the power to initiate criminal prosecution in case of violations. Court cases often drag on for years, resulting in the imposition of small fines in most cases. As per the Standard Reference Note of 2024 from the Directorate General of Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI), Telangana has 4,378 hazardous process factories and over 5.3 lakh workers employed in them. In 2023-24, annual inspections were done at 1,465 hazardous factories. Telangana has 17,758 working factories that are registered with the Factories Department. In 2023-24, Telangana had 21 factory accidents, causing 65 fatalities and 118 injuries. Most experts suggest that the unreported numbers would be significantly higher. Further, the unregistered factories would again be in the thousands, whereas the Factories department is understaffed, with 27 factory inspectors overseeing all of Telangana. The ease of doing business Several activists placed the blame on Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and the amendments to compliance requirements for the compromised safety of workers across the country. 'Ideally, the Factories Department should conduct inspections once every three months (at hazardous locations), but they don't even do it annually any more. Not only the Sigachi management and owners but also the Central and State governments should be held accountable for the accident. If regulatory frameworks were not diluted, the safety wouldn't have been compromised', said Centre of Indian Trade Unions State Secretary P. Bhaskar. Since 2014, the Central government has pushed for reforms under EoDB. The Central government's Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) website lists some of the best practices followed by the States to facilitate an investor-friendly ecosystem. Other States are encouraged to emulate such 'reforms'. In 2014, the Telangana government enacted the Telangana Industrial Project Approval and Self-Certification System (TG-iPASS) Act 2014. Some of the changes brought about by TS-iPASS are: slashing documents needed from 100 documents only 12 documents across departments, an end-to-end online process, self-certifications and joint inspections in place of inspections by multiple departments, approvals for all projects to be made within 15-30 days, deemed approvals in case of delay by departments, and penalty on officials for delay in approvals. According to a document from the DPIIT dated September 2024, the Central and State governments have reduced 2,739 and 25,673 compliances to date. Approximately 6,200 compliances have been retained across the country, whereas over 2,500 compliances are under review (to be eliminated). The Factories Act, which regulates the health, safety, and working conditions of workers, is the one that has been subjected to the most reforms. A government order from 2021 (Telangana) details minimising regulatory burden for over 600 compliances from the Factories Act and Rules, including employee safety and welfare checks. Except in cases of complaints or accidents, the inspections and verifications from the factories department have been eliminated as long as the industries submit self-certification or third-party verification. Further compliance relaxations, process simplification, and decriminalisation are under review. The DPIIT document lists dozens of 'pain points identified by the industry,' such as building permits, plan approval, fire NOC and renewals, land use, permissions concerning boilers, electricity NOC, and pollution control-related approvals. A senior official said that last week, an EoDB meeting of all States discussed the possibility of not insisting on enforcing the National Building Code (NBC) guidelines. The official said that, as such, NBC is not ideal; it is the minimum standard requirements one should follow. It would be concerning for workers' safety if we were to dilute it. 'We have submitted a recommendation that won't compromise EoDB. We want all buildings, including factories, to self-certify that they meet the minimum NBC requirements for fire and life safety. Additionally, the buildings should meet the minimum standards of their respective sector. The department can follow through by doing annual inspections of a randomly generated sample', Nagi Reddy told Frontline. Where's the compensation? On the day of the Sigachi blast, Chief Minister (CM) Revanth Reddy announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the dead and Rs 50,000 to the injured as immediate relief. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakhs to the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. Bihar and Odisha have also announced ex gratia packages. The company committed to the Rs 1 crore ex gratia to the deceased workers as directed by the CM, but the compensation to the injured workers has remained vaguely worded as 'full medical and rehabilitation support (Sigachi press release)'. The initial amount announced by Revanth Reddy has been handed over to the families, but neither the government nor the companies have provided any timeline about the ex-gratia. The families of the injured workers haven't had any confirmation about the amount even 10 days into the accident. 'We heard from the Telangana government that the company will deposit Rs.10 lakhs for the severely injured and Rs.5 lakhs for minor injuries,' an Odisha officer on special duty, Pritish Panda, told Frontline. Also Read | No love lost for labour The company has paid Rs.15 lakhs interim compensation to the families of missing workers. For these families to receive the rest of the ex-gratia, the Telangana government has to initiate the legal process to pronounce them dead. It might at least take three more months. Civil society members are trying to get the timelines of compensation expedited. Of the 44 workers who died in the blast, 10 were from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and the rest belonged to Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. Most workers found the job through village networks, their kin, and neighbours. Ganga Mukhya's wife says he migrated to Hyderabad nearly four years ago and is the primary source of income for his five children, wife, and parents. She only knows that he worked 12-hour shifts (four-hour overtime) and made Rs.18,000 a month (after the PF and ESI cuttings). She wasn't aware if he would have health insurance for future medical bills. In its annual report for the financial year 2023-24, Sigachi listed all of its 429 workers (across all units in India) under the 'other than permanent' category. As per the report, while Sigachi employees have both health and accident insurance, the workers only have the latter. The total cost incurred for the well-being of all employees and workers that financial year was 0.60 per cent of the total revenue. Several workers have months of recovery (from burns) ahead of them, but it is unclear if they will be paid for their medical bills, retain their jobs or be compensated for work days lost. Trade union leaders demand that both the Central and State governments commit to providing better compensation and develop a thorough policy for the future rather than deciding such amounts based on whims and media frenzy. 'Aside from what the company pays, the State and Central government should pay higher compensation. How can they let go of the responsibility towards workers by paying such small amounts like Rs.1 or 2 lakh?' asked Bhaskar. Frontline reached out to Sigachi representatives and will update the story once we receive their response.
