The chemical factory blast, which occurred on Monday morning, also left dozens injured, with many in critical condition. Over a dozen workers were inside the unit at the time of the explosion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced ex-gratia relief of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
Union Minister and Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy also visited the site and assured full support from the central government.
“NDRF, Police and other agencies are engaged in relief operations… Central financial assistance of ₹2 lakhs each will be given to families of the deceased persons and ₹50,000 to the injured,” said Reddy.
“The BJP never does politics on such issues. We will fully cooperate in relief activities… The state government should take all steps to prevent such accidents,” he added.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief in a post on X, stating,
“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. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. Praying for the swift recovery of those injured.”
According to Y Nagi Reddy, Director General of the Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services, the explosion took place during the air handling and drying of Microcrystalline cellulose.
“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,” he initially stated.
“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.
Teams from the NDRF, local police, and disaster response units are still engaged in rescue efforts, with authorities working to determine whether more individuals remain trapped. The cause of the explosion is under investigation, and the site remains sealed off.
The tragedy has sparked concerns over industrial safety standards and emergency preparedness in the region, prompting calls for thorough inquiries and improved monitoring of hazardous facilities.
The death toll from the explosion at Sigachi Pharma Industries in Telangana’s Sangareddy district rose to 34 on Tuesday, officials confirmed, as rescue operations continued at the devastated site in Pasamailaram Phase 1 industrial area.