Tragedy Strikes Pashamylaram: Telangana’s Worst Industrial Disaster in Decades
A devastating explosion at a pharmaceutical plant in Pashamylaram has claimed 32 lives, left dozens injured, and prompted a high-level investigation to uncover the causes and prevent future catastrophes.
Hyderabad: The tragic explosion at Sigachi Industries Limited’s pharmaceutical unit in Pashamylaram near Hyderabad has become Telangana’s deadliest disaster, with about 15 critically injured individuals. More casualties may be confirmed as rescue personnel scour the wreckage of the collapsed three-storey structure.
The catastrophic incident, which occurred on Monday morning in the Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) drying unit, resulted in 35 injuries, with 11 victims in a precarious condition. The blast, so powerful it was audible up to five kilometers away, triggered an inferno that required 15 fire engines to extinguish.
Revealed that 27 workers remain unaccounted for, feared buried beneath the debris. Rescue operations continued vigorously, with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Hyderabad Disaster Response, and the Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), and local police relentlessly clearing the site.
A majority of the workers were migrants from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha. At the time of the explosion, 108 employees were present in the facility. Eyewitnesses recounted horrifying scenes, and some workers were flung several meters by the blast’s force. The bodies of certain victims were charred or dismembered, making DNA testing imperative for identification.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is scheduled to inspect the disaster site and meet the injured at a government hospital. Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha noted that the company, operating for over four decades, specializes in producing MCC, but the specific cause of the explosion remains indeterminate.
Labour Minister G. Vivek clarified that the preliminary assessment suggests the blast did not originate from a reactor. A technical fault in the air dryer system is believed to have instigated the explosion and ensuing blaze.
In response, the state government has constituted a high-level inquiry panel to investigate the calamity. The committee, comprising top officials including the Chief Secretary, Special Chief Secretary (Disaster Management), Principal Secretaries of Labour and Health, and the Additional Director General of Fire Services, will conduct a thorough examination.
The panel has also been tasked with formulating strategic recommendations to avert such incidents in the future. The disaster has sparked concerns around workplace safety, emergency preparedness, and regulatory vigilance in industrial zones. As the community mourns the victims, the focus now shifts to accountability, systemic reform, and compassionate aid for the affected families.
