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Time of India
01-07-2025
- Time of India
Telangana Factory Blast: Eyewitnesses share horror stories of workers being flung 100 meters in air
Telangana Factory Blast: How it happened? Live Events PM, Ministers mourn deaths and promise aid (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A powerful blast at Sigachi Industries Ltd 's chemical unit in Telangana's Pashamylaram industrial estate killed at least 35 people on Monday. Many more remain missing. Workers were flung through the air as fire spread and parts of the plant collapsed within at the site said the force was brutal. Some described bodies being thrown far away. 'Workers were tossed into the air and thrown several metres away,' they told South First. Most victims were migrant labourers from Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and other Monday, Telangana health minister Damodar Rajanarasimha confirmed about 90 workers were inside when the blast struck, as reported by PTI. Quoting survivors, he said, 'The explosion blew up the industrial shed completely and the force of the blast was so intense that some of the workers were thrown up in the air and they fell down about 100 metres away.'Patancheru MLA Mahipal Reddy stood at the scene and directly blamed the company. 'The company is running without any safety precautions. Many people have been injured and have died,' he told reporters. He also claimed the firm may be hiding the real death blast hit at around 9.20 am inside a drying unit. Sigachi Industries said in a statement, 'The incident happened at approximately 9.20 am in the vicinity of our Hyderabad plant located at Pashamylaram, Phase-1.'Director General of State Disaster Response and Fire Services Y Nagi Reddy explained, 'As per industrial experts, the incident happened during the air handling/drying of Microcrystalline cellulose. We are currently unsure of the number of people under the debris.' He added later, '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.'The company announced a complete production halt at the Hyderabad unit for 90 days for repairs. 'In addition to the human losses, the incident also caused damage to certain ancillary equipment and civil structures within the facility,' Sigachi said in its stock exchange filing. 'While the exact number of injured is currently being confirmed, the well-being of our personnel remains our foremost priority.'This unit produces about 6,000 metric tonnes of MCC every year — nearly a third of the company's the blast, thick smoke spread across the area. Many locals complained of breathing problems. Authorities began evacuating residents as a precaution while rescue teams searched for trapped Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss. He announced Rs 2 lakh for the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Union Minister and Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy said, 'NDRF, Police and other agencies are engaged in relief financial assistance of Rs 2 lakhs each will be given to families of the deceased persons and Rs 50,000 to the injured.'He added, 'The BJP never does politics on such issues. We will fully cooperate in relief state government should take all steps to prevent such accidents.'Union Home Minister Amit Shah posted on X, '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.' He added, 'My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. Praying for the swift recovery of those injured.'This tragedy is not isolated. In the past 30 months, Telangana has seen at least 10 major blasts in industrial areas like Pashamylaram and Patancheru. Poor maintenance and shortage of skilled operators are December, this very Sigachi plant cleared a safety check by the factories department. But after Monday's blast, it has been shut down indefinitely. Investigators say no highly flammable solvents were found near the dryers. B Raja Gopal, Director of Factories, told TOI, 'Our preliminary findings suggest that the explosion was due to pressure accumulation in air handling in the dryer. The equipment may have experienced blockages from materials, resulting in heavy pressure build up. This might have triggered a blast.'HYDRAA Commissioner A V Ranganath added, 'The intense heat built up in the container led to the blast which impacted an area up to 50 metres.'As rescue teams sift through debris, families of workers wait for news. This blast has again exposed the risks workers face every day in Telangana's industrial hubs. Many now ask if anything will really change.
Hindustan Times
01-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
‘Workers hurled 100 metres away': Eyewitnesses recall Telangana factory explosion horror
Eyewitnesses at the pharmaceutical unit in Telangana's Pashamylaram industrial estate, located in Sangareddy district, recounted the terrifying moments of the massive explosion that has so far claimed at least 42 lives, with more bodies being recovered during ongoing rescue efforts. The explosion at a Telangana pharmaceutical plant on Monday, June 30, 2025, led to the collapse of the unit and quickly spread fire to nearby buildings on-site.(PTI) Describing the aftermath to the media, eyewitnesses said the blast's impact was so powerful that 'workers were tossed into the air and thrown several metres away.' Reports indicate that several workers were close to the reactor when it exploded. According to South First, many of those employed at the facility were migrant labourers from Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and other states. Workers flung, fell 100 metres away On Monday, Telangana health minister Damodar Rajanarasimha told reporters that about 90 employees were present at the time of the blast, according to news agency PTI. Quoting workers, he said, 'The explosion blew up the industrial shed completely and the force of the blast was so intense that some of the workers were thrown up in the air and they fell down about 100 metres away.' Patancheru MLA Mahipal Reddy, speaking at the scene, accused the company of neglecting safety protocols. 'The company is running without any safety precautions. Many people have been injured and have died,' he stated, also alleging that the management was withholding the actual casualty figures. What went wrong? The explosion at the Telangana pharmaceutical facility caused the manufacturing unit to collapse, with flames rapidly engulfing nearby buildings within the factory compound. On Monday, Y Nagi Reddy, Director General of the Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services, said rescue teams were uncertain about how many individuals remained trapped beneath the rubble. He said, 'As per industrial experts, the incident happened during the air handling/drying of Microcrystalline cellulose. We are currently unsure of the number of people under the debris.' The blast occurred around 9.20 am on Monday at the production unit of Sigachi Industries Ltd, a prominent producer of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), as well as pharmaceutical excipients, food ingredients, and cosmetic products. In a statement, the company confirmed: 'The incident happened at approximately 9.20 am in the vicinity of our Hyderabad plant located at Pashamylaram, Phase-1.' Later in the day, Sigachi Industries informed the stock exchange that production at the Hyderabad facility would be suspended for 90 days to allow for repairs and restoration. 'In addition to the human losses, the incident also caused damage to certain ancillary equipment and civil structures within the facility,' the filing noted. The company added, 'While the exact number of injured is currently being confirmed, the well-being of our personnel remains our foremost priority.' Sigachi Industries operates three MCC manufacturing units, with the Hyderabad plant – where the explosion took place – contributing 6,000 MTPA out of the company's total 21,700 MTPA capacity. The remaining output comes from two other facilities in Gujarat. The blast has caused widespread panic among local communities and workers, as thick smoke spread across the area, triggering breathing difficulties. Authorities have begun evacuating nearby residents as a safety precaution.
Pink Villa
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
BREAKING: Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko meets with fatal car accident, father passes away
Trigger Warning: This article contains mention of death. Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko met with an unfortunate fate recently after he and his family got injured in a serious road accident. He was travelling with his parents and brother when the mishap occurred near Hoganakkal area of Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu. Shine Tom Chacko's father CP Chacko passes away A South First report has claimed that the entire family was rushed to the nearest hospital in the Dharmapuri district where Shine's father CP Chacko was pronounced dead on arrival. He was 70 and had succumbed to injuries. Meanwhile, the actor also suffered injuries on his right hand while his mother, brother and an assisting driver sustained minor injuries. They are still receiving treatment at the hospital. More details about Shine Tom Chacko's accident As per an India Today report, the accident took place as their car rammed into a parked lorry in Palakottai, around 7 AM in the morning of June 6. They were believed to be travelling from Ernakulam to Bengaluru and had started their journey at around 10 PM on Thursday. Shine Tom Chacko received warning from FEFKA recently Just some time back, the Malayalam actor was in the news after he received a warning from FEFKA over misconduct allegations due to alleged dr*g use. This happened after actress Vincy Aloshious claimed that Shine Tom Chacko behaved inappropriately with her on the sets while being under the influence. Thereafter, a final warning was given to the actor stressing on his need to improve his behavior and conduct before any strict action would be taken.
The Wire
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
President Withholds Assent to Kerala Government's Malayalam Language Bill
President Droupadi Murmu withheld assent to a bill passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly aimed at the promotion and institutionalisation of the Malayalam language, sources said on Thursday, 29 May. Although no specific reason has been cited in the President's message, which recently reached the Raj Bhavan, the decision brings an end to a legislative effort that began nearly a decade ago. Originally passed in December 2015, the bill sought to replace the provisions of the Official Languages Act of 1969, which recognises Malayalam or English as the official language of Kerala, by establishing Malayalam as the sole official language of the state. RK Madu, Deputy Secretary at Raj Bhavan, told South First that the intimation was communicated directly to the governor by the President. 'We will share more details after analysing the mail,' he added. Poet and Press Secretary to Chief Minister Prabha Varma said the government would react after understanding the exact reason behind the decision to withhold assent to the bill. The Bill The legislation proposed several reforms, including making Malayalam the primary medium in schools, mandating its use in bills, laws, and orders issued by the governor, and introducing it as the official language in district courts, verdicts in minor cases, quasi-judicial bodies, and state Public Service Commission (PSC) exams. The proposal also called for the creation of a Malayalam language development department under the Secretariat's Civil Service Reforms Department. Concerns over the bill's implications for linguistic minorities, especially Tamil and Kannada speakers, in the state had prompted the then-governor Justice P Sadhasivam to forward it to the President. The Law Department had also advised such a move, arguing that parts of the bill might conflict with existing parliamentary laws protecting linguistic rights. In response to queries raised by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Kerala government had submitted a clarification via the governor on 1 April 2024. Despite this, the President ultimately chose not to give assent to the bill. The governor is now expected to return the bill to the state government along with the President's decision. Successive governments in Kerala have, from time to time, issued orders to use Malayalam for official communication. The ' Bharanabhasha Malayalam ' (official language Malayalam) policy was enacted to that effect. Concern over rejection Meanwhile, Smitha K Nair, Director of the language research centre at Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, expressed deep concern over the President's decision to reject the Bill without providing any explanation. Speaking to South First, she emphasised that the rejection lacked justification, especially in light of Kerala's long-standing commitment to linguistic inclusivity. 'The Kerala Official Languages Act of 1969, Act No. 7 of 1969, recognised Malayalam and English as the official languages of the state. However, it's important to note that an amendment was passed in 1973, which included provisions for linguistic minorities such as Tamil and Kannada speakers, allowing them to communicate with the state government in their respective languages. So rejecting the Bill on the grounds of linguistic exclusion doesn't hold,' she said. Addressing the lack of linguistic pride among Malayalis compared to their counterparts in Tamil Nadu or Karnataka, she pointed to the education system and migratory mindset. 'Our education system is more employment-oriented than knowledge-driven. Additionally, Malayalis have a strong tendency to migrate globally, which contributes to the perception that proficiency in Malayalam is not essential,' she explained. Role of translation Smitha also highlighted the proactive role played by Tamil Nadu's official translation department. 'There, every new term, even in emerging fields like technology, is quickly translated and standardised. Unfortunately, Kerala lags in this area,' she noted. Citing a real-world example, she mentioned how various Malayalam translations were proposed when the term 'speed governor' became widely used in connection with the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD). 'Initially, terms like ' Vega Mapini ' and ' Vega Mapakam ' were suggested by different media outlets, but they didn't gain traction. Finally, the term 'V ega poott ' emerged, and it was widely accepted and is still in use today. This shows how important it is to coin accessible and time-relevant translations to promote the mother tongue,' she said. Smitha also criticised the complexity of Malayalam terms used in science textbooks, suggesting that more reader-friendly vocabulary could enhance learning outcomes and interest in the language. She acknowledged the state government's ongoing efforts to promote Malayalam. 'Even in 2015, when the bill was passed, nearly 77 government departments, 65 public sector undertakings, and 31 autonomous bodies had Malayalam as the official language. These are significant steps, but we still have a long way to go in strengthening the role of Malayalam across all domains,' she concluded. This article was originally published on the South First.
The Independent
06-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Nurse suspended for using superglue to seal child's wound
A nurse at a government hospital in southern India has been suspended for using commercial adhesive instead of stitches to treat a child's wound. The incident occurred on 14 January when Gurukishan Annappa Hosamani, 7, was brought to the Adoor Primary Health Centre in Haveri district of Karnataka state. The child was reportedly bleeding from a wound on his cheek. The nurse, identified by local media by her first name Jyoti, reportedly told the parents using the adhesive would prevent scarring on the child's face and claimed that she had been practising this method of closing wounds for years. Concerned by the nurse's response, the child's parents recorded a video in which she can be heard saying: 'I thought applying Fevikwik would be a better solution, and if it didn't work we would have referred him for further treatment.' Fevikwik is a popular multipurpose adhesive brand. The parents also filed a complaint with the Health Protection Committee. The video sparked public outrage, prompting district health authorities to intervene. But instead of suspending the nurse for medical negligence, they transferred her to another health facility on 3 February, causing a fresh wave of anger. That is when she was suspended. 'If a nurse can take such a decision so lightly, imagine the risks in other remote health centres,' an unidentified local activist told the news outlet South First. In a statement on Wednesday, the Commissioner's Office of Health and Family Welfare Services said: 'Fevikwik is an adhesive solution not permitted for medical use under regulations. In this case, the staff nurse responsible for dereliction of duty by using Fevikwik for the child's treatment has been suspended following a preliminary report and pending further investigation as per rules.' The previous day, relatives of the nurse had gathered at the hospital and demanded her suspension be cancelled, The New Indian Express reported. 'No harm has been caused to the kid and suspension should be revoked,' a relative of the nurse was quoted as saying. The child is reported to be in good health and authorities are monitoring for any adverse effects. 'Fevikwik should not be used on any wounds,' Dr MS Mahesh, a plastic surgeon at Aster CMI Hospital in Bengaluru city told the South First. 'Though it may not cause much harm if used on the surface of the skin, using the adhesive inside deeper cuts may cause infections and other complications. A medicated superglue could have been used if the cut was superficial.'
