42 Dead, Scores Injured in Telangana’s Worst Industrial Tragedy at Sigachi Industries’ Pharma Unit

Moneylife Digital Team 01 July 2025

Economy & Nation

In what is being described as Telangana’s most devastating industrial disaster to date, the death toll from the explosion at Sigachi Industries Ltd's pharmaceuticals unit in Pashamylaram in Sangareddy district, has surged to 42. Rescue workers continued to pull out bodies from the wreckage of a three-storey building that collapsed following a massive blast on Monday morning.

The explosion occurred in the microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) drying unit of the factory, about 50km from Hyderabad, and triggered a massive fire. Over 100 workers were reportedly inside the premises at the time of the incident. Around 35 individuals sustained injuries; at least 10 were in critical condition. Many of the deceased were migrant workers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.

Authorities have confirmed that several victims were charred beyond recognition or blown apart due to the sheer intensity of the blast, prompting the need for DNA testing to establish identities. The blast was so powerful that it hurled some workers several metres through the air, according to eye-witness accounts. The explosion was audible up to 5km away and led to a fire that required 15 fire engines to bring under control.

While the official cause of the explosion is still under investigation, preliminary reports suggest a malfunction in the air dryer system may have sparked the tragedy. Contrary to initial suspicion, officials have ruled out a reactor explosion. A senior government official hinted that a possible chemical reaction in the MCC drying process may have triggered the blast.

By Tuesday morning, the death toll had climbed rapidly from 12 to 34 and later rose further as rescuers recovered more bodies from beneath the debris. As of late Tuesday, 27 people were still reported missing. Personnel from the national disaster response force (NDRF), the Hyderabad disaster response and asset protection agency (HYDRAA) and state fire and police departments continued search operations.

District superintendent of police (SP) Paritosh Pankaj said that teams were still retrieving bodies and the final death toll could rise. "We are in the last phase of debris removal. Several more bodies were recovered this morning," he told reporters.

Chief minister (CM) A Revanth Reddy is scheduled to visit the accident site and meet with the injured undergoing treatment in Hyderabad government hospitals. Telangana health minister Damodar Raja Narasimha, who inspected the site on Monday, said the factory was around four decades old and primarily engaged in the production of microcrystalline cellulose, a substance widely used in pharmaceutical formulations.

In a swift response, the state government has constituted a high-level committee to investigate the cause of the explosion. The panel includes the chief secretary, special chief secretary for disaster management, principal secretaries for labour and health and the additional director general of fire services. The committee has been directed to submit findings and recommend measures to prevent similar industrial mishaps in the future.

The remains of those who perished have been moved to the government hospital in Patancheru for postmortem examinations. The state has arranged for ambulances to transport the bodies back to their home states.

This tragedy is now being referred to as the deadliest industrial accident in Telangana’s history. As the rescue operation nears completion, focus has shifted to accountability and systemic reform to ensure such an incident is never repeated.

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