The death toll following a deadly explosion at Sigachi Industries’ pharmaceutical plant in Pashamylaram, Sangareddy district, has climbed to 35, according to officials involved in the rescue operations. The blast, which occurred on the morning of June 30, has prompted an intensive search for survivors and a broader investigation into industrial safety protocols across the state.

Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDF), local fire brigades, and police have been working around the clock to clear debris and locate missing workers. Authorities estimate 61 employees were present at the time of the explosion, and as of Tuesday, 17 remain unaccounted for.

“Several bodies have been found under the debris while removing it. As many as 31 bodies have been extricated from the debris while three died in hospital while undergoing treatment. The last leg of the rescue operation is still going on,” said District Superintendent of Police Paritosh Pankaj to PTI.

The explosion, which occurred between 8:15 am and 9:35 am, is believed to have originated from a pressure build-up inside a spray dryer, leading to a powerful blast and a subsequent fire. Experts suggest that fine dust particles from microcrystalline cellulose—the chemical handled at the site—may have intensified the impact.

Describing the incident, Director General of State Disaster Response and Fire Services Y Nagi Reddy stated, “Today, at around 9.48 am, there was a blast in the drying unit at Sigachi Pharma Company. The explosion led to a fire.”

Survivors recounted that the sheer force of the explosion threw several workers into the air. “The explosion blew up the industrial shed completely and the force of the blast was so intense that some of the workers were thrown up in the air and they fell down about 100 metres away,” Health Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha confirmed.

Emergency hospitals nearby received waves of critically injured workers. At Pranaam Hospitals in Miyapur, 21 patients were admitted, two of whom were brought dead and one passed away later. Dhruva Hospitals in Patancheru reported 11 admissions, with five patients now on ventilators. Of these, seven suffered 40–80% burns, and two had minor injuries.

The identification of the deceased has proved challenging. Only nine bodies have been confirmed so far, with DNA testing needed to identify the others. Many of the victims are believed to be migrant laborers from Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, accompanied by several cabinet members, visited the accident site on Tuesday and called for an immediate inspection of all chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing units in the state. His office announced, “Immediate assistance of Rs 1 lakh will be provided to the families of the deceased. Rs 50,000 will be given to the families of those injured.”

A five-member committee has been formed to investigate the explosion’s root cause and recommend safety upgrades. The panel includes senior state officials from departments handling disaster management, labour, health, and fire services.

Sigachi Industries Limited, which manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), excipients like microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and chemical intermediates, has suspended operations at the Pashamylaram plant for 90 days, citing infrastructure damage. In its stock exchange filing, the company stated: “In addition to the human losses, the incident also caused damage to certain ancillary equipment and civil structures within the facility.”

A previous safety inspection by the factories department in December had cleared the plant. However, officials now believe blockages in the air handling system and pressure accumulation may have led to the catastrophic failure. Factory Director B Raja Gopal said, “Our preliminary findings suggest that the explosion was due to pressure accumulation in air handling in the dryer.”

The incident has sparked national concern. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences and announced ex-gratia aid of Rs 2 lakh for families of those killed and Rs 50,000 for those injured. Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote on social media, “Saddened by the tragic accident in a chemical factory in Sangareddy, Telangana. The NDRF team rushed to the spot immediately and is continuing the rescue operation along with the local administration.”

Adding to the criticism, Patancheru MLA Mahipal Reddy directly accused the company of neglecting safety: “The company is running without any safety precautions. Many people have been injured and have died.”

With at least 10 major industrial accidents reported in Telangana over the past two and a half years, this latest tragedy is renewing urgent calls for strict safety enforcement in the state’s industrial corridors. As rescue crews dig through the rubble, anguished families wait for answers — and hope for accountability.