Twelve workers lost their lives, and around 30 others suffered injuries in a chemical factory blast near Hyderabad on Monday. The explosion occurred at an industrial unit in Pashamylaram, Sangareddy district.
Soon after the blast, a massive fire engulfed the Sigachi Chemicals premises. Firefighters rushed to the scene. They deployed eleven fire engines and managed to bring the fire under control.
Police and emergency teams immediately launched rescue and relief efforts. Eight workers died on the spot. Four others died in hospitals later.
Officials identified two of the deceased—Abhishek Kumar from Bihar and Nagarjit Tiwari from Odisha—at a Madinguda hospital.
At the time of the explosion, 66 workers were inside the unit. Authorities shifted the injured to nearby hospitals. Twelve remain in critical condition.
According to eyewitnesses, the blast flung workers into the air. Many landed several metres away. The three-storey building collapsed under the impact. Moreover, the fire spread to another building inside the premises.
Rescue workers used earthmovers to clear the debris. They recovered four bodies from the rubble. Migrant workers from Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and other states worked at the unit.
The explosion caused panic, prompting employees from nearby units to flee.
Later, Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha and Labour Minister G. Vivek visited the site. Narasimha said the cause of the blast remains unknown. He noted the factory, nearly 45 years old, manufactures microcrystalline cellulose.
Ministers confirm damage and suspected cause
Vivek confirmed that 12 injured workers are on ventilator support due to severe respiratory injuries. He added that the factory manager died in the incident.
The fire destroyed worker records. He said, prima facie, it was not a reactor blast. Officials suspect a fault in the air dryer system caused the explosion.
Meanwhile, Governor Jishnu Dev Varma expressed grief over the tragedy. He extended condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The Governor spoke to Labour Secretary M Dana Kishore and directed him to ensure full assistance and medical support.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy also expressed shock. He asked officials to prioritise rescue efforts and provide the best treatment to the injured.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office, all necessary steps are underway.
Later, Director General (Fire Services) BV Narayana and HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath reached the site. District Collector P Pravinya and Superintendent of Police Paritosh Pankaj are supervising the ongoing rescue operations.
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