Death Toll Reaches 35 in Telangana Factory Explosion
A catastrophic blast at the Sigachi Industries chemical plant in Pashamylaram, Telangana, on June 30 has claimed the lives of at least 35 workers, with 17 still missing under rubble. Rescue teams are continuing a race against time amid devastating structural collapse and widespread fear among families awaiting word.
Factory Tragedy in Telangana
The explosion occurred at around 9:30 am in the plant’s Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) drying unit, which then triggered a fierce fire and caused multiple floors to cave in. Witnesses described the impact as powerful enough to hurl workers meters across the yard. Emergency responders—including local fire services, police forces, National and State Disaster Response Teams, and robotic units—swiftly arrived and began combing through the wreckage. The death toll rose overnight as bodies were recovered, while nearly two dozen injured remain hospitalised in serious condition.
Rescue Operations and Government Aid
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has visited the site and mobilised additional disaster-response teams for intensified rescue operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the tragedy and announced an ex‑gratia payment of ₹200,000 for the families of the deceased, and ₹50,000 for those injured. Leaders from Bihar, one of the home states of many victims, also pledged financial support for families through similar aid.
Inquiry Underway
A high-level investigation has been launched, involving senior disaster management and civil authorities tasked with determining the accident’s cause. Preliminary expert assessments point to a suspected failure in the air-handling system of the drying unit—not a reactor malfunction. This incident has renewed scrutiny of industrial safety protocols, particularly in the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors within the Sangareddy‑Pashamylaram industrial corridor.
Migrant Workers in Despair
The plant employed over 100 workers, many migrants from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and other states. Emotions ran high as relatives of missing workers protested at the scene, demanding answers and updates. The uncertainty surrounding the fate of loved ones has placed immense emotional strain on families, who remain stationed outside the damaged facility.
