What Caused the Death Toll to Rise to 41 in Telangana Pharma Unit Blast?

Hyderabad, July 6 (NationPress) The fatality count from the fire and explosion at Sigachi Industries Ltd's production facility in Pashamylaram, located near Hyderabad, has tragically escalated to 41 as of Sunday.

One injured worker, identified as Jitender, passed away at Dhruva Hospital in Patancheru.

Another victim, Manmohan Singh, a resident of Bihar, succumbed to his injuries at the same hospital the previous day.

Authorities have reported that nine workers remain unaccounted for as rescue teams continue the challenging task of clearing debris.

The catastrophic explosion occurred at the Sigachi Industries manufacturing facility in Pashamylaram, within the Patancheru Mandal of Sangareddy district on June 30.

This plant specializes in producing Microcrystalline Cellulose powder, a key binding agent used in tablets and capsules.

The incident also resulted in injuries to 33 other workers, with 12 having been discharged from medical care, while others are still receiving treatment across various hospitals.

Rescue efforts revealed 30 fragments of human remains at the site, which have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Hyderabad for DNA testing.

As of now, officials at the Patancheru Government Hospital have collected 24 DNA samples, successfully identifying 22 bodies that have since been returned to their families.

The deceased originated from Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh. Authorities are ensuring that the bodies are transported back to their hometowns with police escorts accompanying each.

Emergency personnel from the Fire Services, SDRF, HYDRAA, and local police continue to search through the debris for additional human remains, with operations set to persist until all remains are accounted for.

Of the 143 individuals present at the factory during the blast, 61 managed to escape unharmed.

As a gesture of support, Sigachi Industries has pledged Rs 1 crore in compensation to the families of each deceased individual. The company has also committed to covering all medical expenses for the injured and providing necessary support.

An investigation is currently underway, led by the Chief Secretary of the Government of Telangana, to review the circumstances and causes surrounding this devastating incident.

A high-level committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary, visited the scene of the explosion on July 4.

This state committee has been tasked with investigating the disaster and comprises key officials from various departments, including Disaster Management, Labour, Health, and Fire Services.

Additionally, a four-member expert committee has been formed, led by B. Venkateshwar Rao, an Emeritus Scientist from CSIR-IICT, to ascertain the root causes and events that led to this catastrophic explosion.