Telangana pharma plant blast: CM Reddy visits spot, toll rises to 35 State govt slams Sigachi Industries management's absence after tragedy

PTI, SANGAREDDY, JULY 1, 2025 :   The death toll from the explosion at the Sigachi Industries' pharma plant in Pashamylaram has risen to 35, police said on Tuesday.

District Superintendent of Police Paritosh Pankaj told newspersons that the toll rose to 35. He, however, did not provide further details. "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," he said.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, accompanied by some of his cabinet colleagues, visited the accident site.

When contacted, a senior official of Pranaam Hospitals in Miyapur said they received 21 patients on Monday with burns and head injuries. However, two were declared brought dead and one succumbed this morning.

A senior official of Dhruva Hospitals in Patancheru said that they received 11 patients on Monday, out of which two were referred to super-speciality hospitals. “Out of the nine patients, five are on ventilators. We have seven patients with burns ranging from 40–80 per cent and two with 10 per cent burns,” the official said.

According to a revenue department official, the identity of nine bodies has only been established so far while the remaining need to undergo DNA profiling. Most of the deceased belonged to other states such as Odisha, West Bengal, and Bihar. The fatal accident on Monday is suspected to have been caused by a chemical reaction.

Meanwhile, the state government on Tuesday gave a dressing down to the management of Sigachi Industries Ltd for its absence following the blast. The CM sought a comprehensive report on the incident, including details of past similar occurrences and preventive measures taken.

Replying to Reddy’s query, a company official said the founder and executive chairman of Sigachi was here on Monday. Reddy also pressed the company for an action plan regarding the compensation to the victims.

“Major accident has taken place. He (senior management) has to come. He has to visit the deceased persons’ families. You cannot avoid the situation. He has to come. Ask him to come,” the Chief Minister fumed.

Industries Minister Sridhar Babu said the company has to act on a humanitarian basis. “Sorry to say that your top management is not here even after 24 hours. If he is so preoccupied, why does he have to run a factory? Such a major incident, fatal incident has taken place. And our government will take it very seriously,” Sridhar Babu said.

He highlighted that Ministers Raja Narasimha and Vivek have been continuously monitoring the situation for the past 24 hours. Sridhar Babu also mentioned that the Director of Factories has provided some sort of indications to the company (on safety issues).

The Sigachi official replied that all the medical expenses of the victims would be borne by the firm.

District Superintendent of Police Paritosh Pankaj said: "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."

Sigachi Industries Limited is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to pioneering advancements in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), Intermediates, Excipients, vitamin-mineral blends, and Operations and Management (O&M) services, according to the company's website.