What Led to the Tragic Explosion at a Telangana Chemical Factory?

Hyderabad, June 30 (NationPress) A devastating explosion at a chemical manufacturing facility in Telangana’s Sangareddy district resulted in the death of 13 individuals and left 35 others injured on Monday.

The incident took place within a chemical factory located in the Pashamylaram industrial area, approximately 50 km from Hyderabad.

This catastrophic event at Sigachi Chemicals caused the collapse of a three-story structure and ignited a massive fire.

The number of fatalities may increase as more workers are believed to be trapped under the rubble. The injured have been transported to various hospitals, with 12 in critical condition.

The explosion occurred around 9:30 a.m. in the Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) drying section, with rescue efforts ongoing into the night.

Witnesses reported that the force of the explosion launched workers into the air, sending them tumbling several meters away.

Eleven fire trucks were deployed to control the fire, while police, fire services, and other personnel initiated rescue and relief operations.

The State Disaster Response Force, Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), along with revenue and police teams, were actively involved in the rescue efforts.

Eight workers died at the scene, while five succumbed to their injuries in hospitals. The company's vice-president, M. E. Elanghovan, is reported to be among the deceased.

At the time of the explosion, around 108 workers were present on-site. Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha, who visited the site, confirmed that most workers managed to escape.

The workforce included migrants from Bihar, Punjab, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and other states.

The explosion and subsequent fire created widespread panic among employees at the chemical plant and neighboring facilities.

Minister Narasimha stated that the cause of the explosion is currently unknown. He noted that the company, established 40-45 years ago, specializes in producing Microcrystalline Cellulose.

Labour Minister G. Vivek reported that 12 of the injured were on ventilator support due to severe respiratory issues. He confirmed that the factory manager was among those who lost their lives, and records related to workers were destroyed in the fire.

The Labour Minister indicated that preliminary investigations suggest it was not a reactor explosion, but a malfunction in the air dryer system that likely caused the incident.

This disaster stands as one of the worst incidents in the state's history, inciting panic within the industrial complex and provoking protests from families of victims who claimed that inadequate safety measures contributed to the tragedy.

Concerned relatives of missing workers staged protests, attempting to enter the premises for information about their loved ones. Tensions escalated as scuffles broke out with police.

Director General of Fire Services Nagi Reddy and HYDRAA Commissioner A. V. Ranganath rushed to the location, while Sangareddy district Collector P. Pravinya and Superintendent of Police Paritosh Pankaj oversaw rescue operations.

President Droupadi Murmu expressed her sorrow regarding the incident, offering heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wishing for a swift recovery for the injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his anguish over the loss of lives in this tragic fire incident, conveying his condolences to the families affected and praying for the swift recovery of those injured.

The Prime Minister announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased worker, alongside Rs 50,000 for the injured.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed shock at the accident, extended condolences to the families of the deceased, and pledged full support for the victims.

The Chief Minister instructed the Health Minister, Chief Secretary, and DGP to mobilize all resources for rescue and relief efforts.

A high-powered committee has been formed to investigate the disaster and its causes, comprising the Chief Secretary, Special Chief Secretary (Disaster Management), Principal Secretaries (Labour and Health), and Additional DGP (Fire Services).

The committee is tasked with making recommendations to prevent future occurrences of such accidents.

The Chief Minister plans to visit the hospital and meet with the victims' families on Tuesday.

Governor Jishnu Dev Varma expressed deep sorrow over the incident, extending heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wishing for the rapid recovery of the injured.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, described the fire accident as an extremely tragic event. “My heartfelt condolences go out to those who lost their loved ones. I hope for the rapid recovery of all the injured,” he stated.

AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his deep anguish over the loss of lives, stating, “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. My thoughts and prayers are with those injured, and I wish them a speedy recovery.”