A devastating explosion at Sigachi Industries near Hyderabad has claimed 32 lives and injured 35 others
A Morning of Mayhem: What Happened at Sigachi Industries
On the morning of June 30, 2025, a thunderous explosion ripped through the Sigachi Industries chemical plant in Pashamylaram, about 50 km from Hyderabad. The blast occurred around 9:20 AM, during peak working hours, when over 100 employees were reportedly on-site.
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The explosion originated in the Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) drying unit, where pressure buildup in a spray dryer is believed to have triggered the blast. The impact was so severe that it reduced a three-storey building to rubble, with debris flung across the compound and flames engulfing adjacent structures.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, workers tossed into the air, bodies charred beyond recognition, and plumes of smoke visible for miles. Rescue teams, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), rushed to the site with 15 fire engines, robots, and aerial lighting systems to aid in night-time operations.
Safety Breached: Negligence or Systemic Failure?
As the death toll climbed to 32, with 35 others injured, 11 of them critically, the spotlight turned to the factory’s safety protocols. Local MLA Mahipal Reddy accused the company of operating without adequate safety measures and failing to disclose the actual number of workers present.
The factory, which manufactures pharmaceutical-grade MCC, had reportedly ignored early warning signs. Fine dust particles in the air may have accelerated the fire post-blast, and the absence of real-time attendance records complicated rescue efforts.
Among the deceased were migrant workers from Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, many of whom had joined the plant just weeks earlier. Families of the missing gathered outside hospitals and the blast site, desperate for news. DNA testing was initiated to identify victims whose bodies were burnt beyond recognition.
In response, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy ordered a high-level probe and announced compensation for the victims’ families. A five-member committee has been tasked with investigating the root cause and recommending reforms to prevent future tragedies.
Aftermath and Accountability: Will Justice Be Served?
This disaster has reignited national debate over industrial safety in India. Despite being a ₹500-crore enterprise, Sigachi Industries allegedly lacked basic safeguards. The fact that a malfunctioning dryer could cause such devastation points to systemic negligence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and announced ex gratia payments of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. But for many, monetary relief is no substitute for accountability.
As rescue teams continue to clear debris and search for the missing, the government faces mounting pressure to enforce stricter safety regulations. Activists and labor unions are demanding criminal charges against the plant’s management and a nationwide audit of hazardous industrial units.
Conclusion:
The Pashamylaram blast is not just an industrial accident, it’s a human tragedy born of systemic oversight. As India mourns the lives lost, the nation must confront a hard truth: without urgent reforms in industrial safety, such disasters will continue to haunt its workforce.
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