Patna: At least 12 workers have died, including six labourers from Bihar, after an explosion ripped through a pharmaceutical factory in Telangana on Monday morning. The blast occurred between 8:15 am and 9:30 am in the reactor unit of Sigachi Industries, located in the Pashamilaram Industrial Area of Sangareddy district.
Eyewitnesses described a devastating scene where the force of the blast threw workers up to 100 metres away. The explosion also caused part of the factory wall to collapse and triggered a major fire that required 10 fire brigade vehicles to control. Officials said around 150 people were present at the site during the incident, with 90 workers in the affected unit.
The injured include four labourers from Amartha village in Rohtas district of Bihar. Among them, W Paswan is in critical condition, while Dilip Gosai, Naga Paswan, and Deepak Paswan remain missing.
The Telangana Labour Minister, G Vivek Venkatswamy, confirmed that four bodies have been recovered so far and expressed hope that no further deaths would occur. Police said that teams from NDRF, DRF, and SDRF were deployed for rescue operations. Preliminary investigations suggest the explosion was caused by a rapid chemical reaction in the reactor.
In response, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed condolences, offering similar assistance from the PM National Relief Fund.
Sigachi Industries, established in 1989, manufactures microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a white, odourless pharmaceutical powder used widely in medicine and cosmetics. The company operates five factories across India and exports its products to more than 65 countries. Following the incident, Sigachi Industries’ shares fell by 9.89%, closing at Rs 49.72 on the Bombay Stock Exchange.
An employee said most workers at the plant come from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal, working in shifts of over 60 workers alongside 40 other staff. Rescue operations and investigations into the exact cause of the blast are ongoing.
