What Caused The Telangana Pharma Factory Blast That Killed 42?

Monday’s explosion at the Sigachi Pharma Industries in Telangana’s Sangareddy may have been caused by the building up of pressure inside the spray dryer, according to a senior official who was involved in the rescue operations.

The death toll in the incident, about 50 km from Hyderabad, swelled to 42 on Tuesday, with more of those grievously injured succumbing to their burns at various hospitals. The state government appointed a high-powered committee to probe the disaster and its underlying causes.

Explaining the probable cause of the blast, the official further said the pressure seemed to have built up when the workers were operating the spray dryer.

Fine dust chemical particles also accelerated the blast and the subsequent fire, he added.

In a statement, the police said that the chemical factory was involved with the production of Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) – a purified, partially depolymerised cellulose derived from fibrous plant material, often wood pulp.

Alongside, investigators were also probing the reactor (spray dryer) blast, likely from a chemical reaction or the ignition of chemical dust particles.

Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha told media persons at the spot on Monday that the cause of the explosion was not yet known. The company, which is 40-45 years old, manufactures Microcrystalline Cellulose, he said.

Labour Minister G Vivek said prima facie it was not a reactor blast. Some problem in the air dryer system is believed to have resulted in the explosion and fire.

According to the company’s website, Sigachi Industries Limited “is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to pioneering advancements in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), Intermediates, Excipients, vitamin-mineral blends, and Operations and Management (O&M) services”.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Telangana unit also raised concerns over safety lapses, citing missing operational licenses and safety clearances.

As more bodies were retrieved from the debris of the explosion, officials said multiple labourers sustained serious burn injuries.

The majority of the victims were migrant workers from states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, it was known.

As many as 108 workers were at the factory at the time of the blast, which could be heard about five km away. The explosion triggered a huge fire, and 15 fire engines were used to douse the flames.

According to eye-witnesses, such was the impact of the explosion that workers were tossed in the air and fell several meters away.

As the bodies of some victims were blown to pieces or charred beyond recognition, the authorities were conducting DNA tests to establish their identity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over the loss of lives in the explosion, and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased, and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.