The tragic explosion at a chemical plant in Telangana has claimed at least 42 lives, marking one of the worst industrial disasters in recent years. The incident occurred on June 30, 2025, at Sigachi Industries located in the Pashamylaram industrial area of Sangareddy district, near Hyderabad. A powerful blast inside a chemical reactor led to the collapse of a three-storey building, trapping many workers inside. The factory was reportedly engaged in spray-drying operations for microcrystalline cellulose, a common excipient in pharmaceutical products.
Initial reports indicate that the explosion was triggered by an abnormal rise in temperature and pressure within the spray-drying unit. Investigators suspect that the air handling system may have overheated to over 700–800°C, leading to the catastrophic failure of the reactor. The force of the blast was so severe that it flattened the structure and caused extensive fires, making rescue operations extremely challenging. Emergency response teams, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local firefighting units, have been working tirelessly to locate and recover victims from the debris.
As of now, 42 people have been confirmed dead, with many others critically injured. Several of the victims sustained severe burns or were crushed under the rubble. Identification of the deceased has proven difficult, prompting the authorities to rely on DNA profiling due to the extent of charring. The state government has set up a five-member panel to investigate the cause of the explosion, and a forensic team is conducting an in-depth analysis of the site to determine exactly what went wrong.
The disaster has drawn widespread attention and prompted immediate responses from both state and central authorities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh for each deceased victim’s family and ₹50,000 for the injured. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also extended similar financial assistance, as many of the factory workers hailed from Bihar. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has ordered a state-wide safety audit of all chemical and pharmaceutical factories to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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The explosion has reignited concerns over industrial safety regulations and enforcement in India, especially in high-risk sectors such as pharmaceuticals and chemicals. Critics argue that insufficient training, outdated machinery, and poor safety standards continue to plague many factories. As the rescue operations continue and the investigation proceeds, the tragedy at Sigachi Industries serves as a grim reminder of the human cost of negligence and regulatory lapses.
