SANGAREDDY, Telangana, India — A major blast at the Sigachi Industries pharmaceutical factory destroyed the facility and left 30+ people dead including 15 workers who died overnight from their injuries, according to NDTV as of July 1, 2025.
The explosion, which was reported on Monday between 8:15 and 9:35 a.m. started a towering fire that crumbled the three-story building and buried dozens of workers. There are fears that the number of dead could rise further, with 27 workers still missing while the rescue operations is ongoing.
Cause of the Explosion
Initial investigations suggest a pressure buildup in a spray dryer in the Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) drying plant as the probable cause, according to The Indian Express.
Fine chemical dust particles have been thought to have hastened the blast, fueling the fire that consumed the complex.
Y Nagi Reddy, Director General of Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services, observed that the blast probably resulted from a flaw in the drying process, although technical advisors are still analyzing the exact cause.
There are mixed reports, with some officials, such as Inspector General V Satyanarayana, proposing a reactor explosion, emphasizing the necessity of a complete investigation.
Safety Lapses Under Scrutiny
The accident has raised alarm over industrial safety in the Sangareddy-Pashamylaram stretch, where such accidents have happened in recent times.
A preliminary report by a previous explosion at another plant in the area showed key weaknesses such as untrained personnel, weak cooling systems, and absence of safety procedures.
At Sigachi Industries, a lack of proper information from the management—coupled with the factory manager’s death in the explosion—has made rescue operations difficult, Labour Minister G Vivek Venkatswamy has stated.
Government and Community Response
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy constituted a five-member committee headed by Chief Secretary Ramakrishna Rao to probe the accident and suggest preventive action.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a payment of ₹ 2 lakh as an ex gratia for the families of the dead and ₹ 50,000 for the injured.
The effect of the blast, which occurred up to five kilometers from the site, has left workers’ families—most of them migrants from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha—waiting anxiously as DNA tests are being done to confirm charred bodies.
Telangana Chemical Factory Blast: Call for Tougher Controls
With 108 employees on site at the time of the blast, the enormity of this tragedy points to an imperative need for more stringent safety inspections and training in industry units.
The rescue operations going on, courtesy NDRF, SDRF, and fire departments, point towards the difficulty of maneuvering such disasters.
This one of the biggest industrial disasters in Telangana’s history requires a strong response to ensure that no similar tragedies occur in the future.
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