Subhechcha Ganguly 
The death toll from the massive explosion at a chemical plant in Telangana’s Sangareddy district rose to 42 on Tuesday, as rescue teams recovered more bodies from the debris of the shattered factory. The blast occurred on Monday at the Sigachi Industries facility in Pashamylaram Industrial Area, reportedly due to a suspected reactor explosion.
Rescue and firefighting operations were launched immediately after the incident, with at least 10 bodies recovered on the first day. Officials confirmed that 31 bodies were pulled out from the rubble, while three other workers succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
“Several bodies were trapped under the debris. As of now, 42 people have been confirmed dead, and the final phase of the rescue is still in progress,” said Paritosh Pankaj, District Superintendent of Police, speaking to PTI.
State Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is expected to visit the site of the tragedy on Tuesday morning to review the situation firsthand.
According to State Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, around 90 employees were present inside the factory when the explosion occurred. “The blast was so powerful that it completely blew up the industrial shed. Some workers were flung nearly 100 metres due to the intensity of the explosion,” he told the media, quoting eyewitnesses.
While the exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation, initial reports suggest it may have been triggered by a chemical reaction in the reactor unit.
Rescue operations are being carried out by teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), HYDRAA, and the Telangana Fire and Disaster Response Services. The teams are working relentlessly to clear the debris and locate any possible survivors.
Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma expressed deep sorrow over the incident, extending condolences to the families of the deceased and wishing a speedy recovery to those injured. He also contacted M. Dan Kishore, Principal Secretary of Labour, Employment Training and Factories (LETF), and instructed that all necessary assistance be provided to the victims and their families.
The incident has sent shockwaves across the state, raising questions about safety protocols and compliance at industrial units.
