A deadly explosion followed by a fire at a pharmaceutical factory in Telangana, southern India, has resulted in the deaths of at least 36 people, with nearly 36 more hospitalized. The blast occurred Monday at a Sigachi Industries plant located about 50 kilometers from Hyderabad, the state capital. Firefighters recovered 34 charred bodies from the wreckage, according to G.V. Narayana Rao, director of the state's fire services. Two other victims died in the hospital due to severe burns. Efforts continued into Tuesday to remove debris in search of any additional trapped workers.
“The whole structure of the factory has collapsed. The fire has been doused, and we hope to finish removing the debris in the next few hours,” Rao said.
Sigachi Industries has not yet provided a cause for the explosion, but confirmed that its core manufacturing unit was destroyed. The company said operations at the site will remain suspended for at least 90 days. The affected plant specialized in producing microcrystalline cellulose, a chemical used widely in drug formulation.
Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha confirmed that 108 workers were present at the time of the incident.
“As bodies were badly burnt and mutilated, a special medical team has been deployed to conduct DNA tests,” said Narasimha, adding that a state-led investigation panel has been formed to determine the cause.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing the powerful blast from several kilometers away. The tragedy has highlighted persistent safety challenges in India's industrial sector, particularly in pharmaceutical manufacturing, where chemical-related accidents remain frequent.
Sigachi Industries, which also operates facilities across India and has subsidiaries in the U.S. and UAE, saw it stock price plunge for a second straight session, falling 8% on Tuesday after a nearly 10% drop Monday. The destroyed factory reportedly accounted for over a quarter of the firm's production capacity.
In a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange, the company described the fire as an "unfortunate" incident and noted that a full site evaluation was underway.
