42 Dead in Telangana Pharma Blast

 

Sangareddy, Telangana (December 19, 2023): A catastrophic explosion and fire ripped through a pharmaceutical factory in Telangana on Monday, killing at least 42 workers and injuring dozens more, with fears the death toll may still climb. The tragedy struck Sigachi Industries' manufacturing unit in the Bollaram Industrial Area, approximately 50 km from Hyderabad.

Escalating Casualty Count:

Initial reports confirmed 12 fatalities.

Sangareddy SP Paritosh Pankaj later confirmed 34 deaths to ANI.

By Tuesday, the death toll tragically rose to 42, as reported by the Hindustan Times and confirmed by ongoing rescue efforts. Rescue teams continue to sift through the charred wreckage, raising concerns that more bodies may be found.

Cause and Chaos:
GV Narayana Rao, Director of Telangana State Fire Services, stated the blast originated in a spray dryer unit. This critical equipment is used to process raw materials into fine powder for drug manufacturing. The explosion triggered a massive fire that rapidly engulfed the facility during working hours.

Rescue and Aftermath:

Firefighters recovered the charred bodies of 10 workers directly from the gutted factory premises.

Two other workers succumbed to severe burn injuries after being rushed to the hospital.

Nearly three dozen injured workers remain hospitalized, many in critical condition.

Debris clearance operations are ongoing to locate any potentially trapped individuals.

National Response:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound anguish over the incident. "Deeply anguished by the loss of lives... My thoughts are with the bereaved families," he stated on social media. He announced ex-gratia relief of ₹2 lakh each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the next of kin of the deceased, and ₹50,000 for the injured.

Sigachi Industries and Industry Context:
Sigachi Industries Limited is a significant Indian player in the pharmaceutical sector, specializing in active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), intermediates, and vitamin-mineral blends. The company operates five manufacturing facilities across India and has subsidiaries in the US and UAE. This disaster underscores the persistent risks within India's vital pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, a global hub for generic medicines. It highlights the critical need for stringent enforcement of safety protocols and regulatory oversight, especially concerning hazardous chemical processes like those involving spray dryers.

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