The scale of the incident has deeply shaken the region, drawing shock and condolences across political lines. Telangana Health Minister Damodar Cillarapu visited the site to oversee rescue and medical operations.
Published Jun 30, 2025 | 9:57 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 30, 2025 | 9:57 PM
DRF personnel entering the scene
Synopsis: At least 12 people have died and 35 others were injured following a massive explosion at the Sigachi Chemical Plant in Pashamylaram, near Hyderabad, on Monday afternoon. The blast triggered a fire that rapidly engulfed the facility, leading to the collapse of a three-storey structure. As grieving families await answers, questions mount over safety lapses and accountability at the industrial site.
A devastating reactor blast at the Sigachi Chemical Plant in Pashamylaram, Patancheru, Sangareddy district – on the outskirts of Hyderabad in Telangana – triggered a massive fire on Monday, 30 June.
The blaze spread rapidly through several parts of the facility, culminating in the collapse of a three-storey building. As per the latest reports, at least 12 people have been confirmed dead, while 35 others have sustained injuries – some of them critical.
The scale of the incident has deeply shaken the region, drawing shock and condolences across political lines. Telangana Health Minister Damodar Cillarapu visited the site to oversee rescue and medical operations.
At ground zero, the air remains thick with the acrid stench of burning plastic, industrial chemicals, and smoke that stings the eyes and throat.
Smoke and debris from the site
Shards of glass crunch underfoot as a steady stream of officials, journalists, and anxious acquaintances crowd the disaster zone. A light drizzle falls from a darkened sky, matching the soot-streaked earth below.
Bits of shattered walls lie scattered across the muddy road – evidence of a catastrophe that has left behind more questions than answers, and a community grappling for clarity, closure, and accountability.
“Our friend Chikan works at this facility. We hail from the same town in Bihar and came to Hyderabad some three years ago,” said a man waiting anxiously at the factory gates.
His 22-year-old friend had only recently joined the plant.
“I’ve been waiting here since the morning for some kind of update. We could hear the explosion from our company a little distance away and immediately received calls about what had happened,” he said.
“Every time an ambulance leaves the premises, I’m afraid that I’ll have to see Chikan dead, but as of now, there is no information about him.”
An eyewitness working at a neighbouring factory described the moments following the explosion:
“My coworkers and I rushed to the scene after we heard the blast and got calls about it. When we reached, the situation was dire. The fire was spreading rapidly from building to building. From what I know of the facility, the doorways are not very large. However, those who could escape began running out of there,” he told The South First.
“We tried to help whoever we could, but we were hoping the authorities would come soon. The smoke was really harsh, along with the smell as well.”
Broken walls around the facility
A short distance away, a group of three friends – also workers at nearby plants – stood discussing what they had heard.
“What happened today at the plant was a tragedy. However, that is not to say it is uncommon. We often have to see people die in front of us because of these accidents,” said one of them.
“From my estimate of what I see and what I hear from those who work there, the numbers might as well be around 200. To top it off, unlike other plants, their testing lab was also close to the dryer area – something that is not usually practised. Whatever happens now is in the company’s hands.”
Even as they spoke, the sounds of water jets and metal gears grinding filled the air. An ambulance pulled out from the premises, while DRF personnel continued their operations.
Speaking to the press at the entrance of the plant, the Director General of Telangana Fire Services said that the general manager in charge of the plant’s operations also died in the incident, creating a significant challenge for the response.
“Currently, 11 fire stations and 3 Disaster Relief Force units are working to address the situation. We are bringing in bulldozers to try and clear the debris and look for people who remain stranded,” he said.
Fire tenders and DRF vans at the location
“We are currently not sure how many people were inside when the accident occurred. We have evacuated about 35 people, and 12 have died – 2 died at the hospital, while we found 10 dead.”
He also noted that estimates suggested there could have been anywhere between 60 and 120 people at the facility.
“We suspect that the fire began because of an error in the dryer at the facility. During an explosion like this, most fire safety measures fail. However, further investigation is underway to find the cause,” he added.
As the rain continued to fall, muddying the roads and making it difficult to sit or take shelter, the crowd at Pashamylaram only grew.
While officials and rescue workers continued their efforts, many others waited nearby out of concern – each of them knowing someone inside the plant, wondering if they were alive, or at least if their bodies had been recovered from the debris.
Each ambulance leaving the premises was met by someone asking for a photo, hoping to identify the worker being taken to the nearest hospital.
Around 20 kilometres away, two patients arrived at a local hospital at about 2.30 pm – covered in paint, their bodies bandaged and injured.
Unable to walk, they had to be wheeled into the emergency room. They were the 20th and 21st patients admitted to the hospital that day, and sadly, not the last.
An injured person arriving at Pranaam Hospital
“I do not work there, I work in Secunderabad. However, I rushed here after hearing about the blast. My friend is receiving treatment currently,” said a companion of one of the injured, a 30-year-old worker.
Along with two others, they had been waiting at Madinaguda’s Pranaam Hospital since morning, hoping for updates from the ICU.
All three are from Arrah in Bihar’s Bhojpur district. The friend has been regularly updating the injured worker’s family back home.
“We’ve been working in Hyderabad in spurts of six to seven months over the last couple of years,” he added.
Lagnajeet Dwari, a 20-year-old from Odisha, was among the two who succumbed to injuries at the hospital.
Speaking to The South First, his uncle recounted: “I had just completed my night shift when I got a call that my nephew was hurt.”
“I rushed to the location with some known people in search of him, but couldn’t find him anywhere. After searching for a long time, I was able to find him at this hospital through his boss,” he explained.
The uncle and nephew had been living and working in Hyderabad for nearly two years, both employed at Sigachi.
“When I came here, I was told that he died. My kid is gone. I feel like we’ve just come here to see his body – like you’d go to visit god at a temple. Now what has happened has happened. Will the company accept its responsibility?” he asked, holding back tears.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
