The death toll from the explosion at a chemical factory in Telangana has now reached 36, as more bodies were recovered during ongoing rescue operations, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy confirmed on Tuesday.
The toll had been 12 by Monday night but surged to 34 by Tuesday morning, with the latest updates bringing the number to 36. Several reports have provided varying figures, but the official count stands at 36 deaths so far, with authorities still verifying the whereabouts of the missing.
“Many bodies have been found under the debris as rescue teams continue to clear the site. The final phase of the rescue operation is still underway,” said Paritosh Pankaj, the district Superintendent of Police, in a statement to the media.
The explosion occurred at the Sigachi Chemical Industry in Pashamylaram, and is believed to have been triggered by a reactor blast. State Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha shared with reporters that around 90 employees were at the factory when the blast took place.
“The explosion completely destroyed the industrial shed. The force was so powerful that some workers were thrown up into the air, landing about 100 meters away from the site,” the Minister said, quoting workers who witnessed the horrifying event.
In the aftermath, rescue teams, including NDRF, HYDRAA, and Telangana Fire Disaster Response squads, were immediately dispatched to the site, recovering at least 10 bodies in the initial phase of the operation. Firefighting efforts were also launched to control the damage.
While the exact cause of the blast remains unclear, authorities suspect a chemical reaction may have been responsible for the explosion.
The tragic incident also drew condolences from Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, who expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives. He offered his condolences to the victims’ families and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
Governor Varma also reached out to M. Dan Kishore, the Principal Secretary of the Labour, Employment, Training, and Factories Department, instructing him to ensure that all necessary assistance is provided to those affected by the blast.
