Hyderabad: At least 10 workers are feared dead and several others injured in a massive reactor blast at a chemical factory in Telangana’s Pashamylaram on Monday morning. The blast led to a major fire at the factory of Sigachi Industries Pvt Ltd, situated about 50 km from the city of Hyderabad.
Fire department officials said that they have recovered five bodies so far from the rubble after the industrial structure collapsed due to the powerful explosion. Officials said that a fire alert was received at 9.37 am after which 11 fire engines were deployed from Patancheru, Sangareddy, Kukatpally, Madhapur, Jeedimetla, and Rajendranagar.
Additionally, two fire robots, disaster response force units, and rescue teams were mobilised to tackle the blaze. Fire department personnel are making efforts to control the blaze, so they may reach all parts of the factory.
Sigachi Industries is primarily involved in the manufacturing and processing of chemicals, primarily for the pharmaceutical sector. Pashamylaram is an industrial area, where several such factories are located.
According to officials, such incidents are not uncommon in the Pashamylaram and Sangareddy areas. A reactor blast at a pharma unit had killed six and injured 14 in the last such incident there. In 2023, three workers died in another reactor blast at Pashamylaram. They have said that an audit may be necessary to check whether all safety norms are being followed at these factories.
Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy has expressed grief at the incident and directed officials to take steps to rescue workers who may be trapped inside.
