Telangana Factory Blast Claims 44 Lives, Industry Faces Safety Reckoning

The death toll at the Telangana factory blast at Sigachi Industries has reached 44 making it one of the most tragic industrial calamities in the state.

The incident occurred on June 30, at the company's manufacturing plant at Pashamylaram in the Sangareddy district, which manufactures microcrystalline cellulose for use in pharmaceuticals.

143 workers were at work at the time of the blast. Of these, 61 have been confirmed safe, fourteen of the 33 injured have been discharged from the hospital, and eight remain missing. Search teams have recovered 44 sets of human remains, which are currently being analyzed using DNA to confirm identity. Sixteen injured workers remain in treatment for serious injuries in local hospitals.

The explosion was reported to have originated in the spray dryer unit, and there have been significant professional concerns raised in recent weeks around the relevant equipment maintenance and the efficacy of workplace safety standards in the facility. Preliminary investigation into equipment showed lack of heat sensors and alarms indicating the possibility of negligence in the realm of industrial safety procedures.

Also Read: Telangana Pharma Blast Toll Hits 36, Sparks Industry Safety Scrutiny

The company announced a payment of Rs 1 crore to the families of the deceased and was to pay for medical expenses incurred by the injured workers. However, this tragedy has put a spotlight on the urgent need for robust safety practices in India’s pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, where growth must not come at the cost of human lives.