Telangana chemical reactor blast kills 4 in Sangareddy district; around 25 injured

Some others, said to have been severely injured, were rushed to the Sangareddy Government Hospital.

The condition of two persons among the injured is critical and they have been referred to a hospital in Hyderabad, the officials said.

Disturbing viral videos are circulating on social media. They showed dead bodies and people with burns walking out of the site.

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The incident

According to the district’s Fire Department officer Srinivas, there was an explosion at 4.45 pm, and the fire station received a call about it at 4.50 pm.

Srinivas told South First: “It was a major incident. The reactors on the premises of SB Organics Private Limited exploded and there was fire.”

He added: “If one of the reactors explodes, there is a chance of others bursting as well. In this case, there were around 10 reactors, and the Fire Department inspection revealed that four had exploded, leading to a fire.”

Five fire extinguishers reached the spot and extinguished the fire in two hours.

Meanwhile, the shockwaves from the explosions were said to have been so powerful that glass panes in neighbouring budlings had been shattered.

Srinivas, meanwhile, also said: “The Fire Department recovered four bodies and later rescued an individual. He is said to be in a serious condition, and on the ventilator.”

The Sangareddy police launched a probe into the incident after a case was registered in this regard.

Also read: 7 members of a family among 9 killed in Hyderabad fire

Political reactions

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy conveyed deep shock over the incident. He directed the director-general of the Fire Department to promptly visit the site and oversee the rescue operations.

The district collector and superintendent of police were instructed to take all necessary measures to ensure better medical treatment for the victims.

సంగారెడ్డి జిల్లా, హత్నూర మండలం, చందాపూర్ లోని ఎస్బీ ఆర్గానిక్స్ పరిశ్రమలో రియాక్టర్ పేలిన ఘటనలో పలువురు మృత్యువాతపడటం దిగ్భ్రాంతికి గురిచేసింది.

క్షతగాత్రులకు మెరుగైన వైద్య సాయం అందించాల్సిందిగా అధికారులను ఆదేశించాను.

మృతుల కుటుంబాలకు నా ప్రగాఢ సానుభూతి తెలియజేస్తున్నాను.

— Revanth Reddy (@revanth_anumula) April 3, 2024

Telangana Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha inspected the spot and interacted with the injured in the hospital.

He subsequently told reporters, “According to the victims, at least three reactors exploded in SB Organics Private. Limited. The reason for such an explosion is under inquiry and we will take the report to understand what steps further should be taken to avoid such incidents.”

Telangana Governor CP Radhakrishnan expressed shock over the incident and instructed the state administration to mobilise its machinery to provide all necessary support to the victims.

He conveyed his condolences to the families of those who died in the tragedy, a Raj Bhavan press communique said.

Former minister and current MLA Harish Rao expressed shock over the death of workers.

The BRS leader urged the government to immediately take relief measures and provide better treatment to the injured.

BRS president and former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao also condoled the death of the factory employees.

‘Ex-gratia cannot be announced due to MCC’

Meanwhile, State Environment Minister Konda Surekha told media that she rushed to the spot as she happened to be near the plant.

Those who were injured have been shifted to various hospitals, she said.

The minister said compensation would be provided to the kin of those who died and also the injured after discussing with the company.

Expressing anguish over the incident, Surekha said the management of companies should be alert, especially in view of the summer, to prevent such tragedies.

As the model code of conduct for Lok Sabha elections is in force, ex-gratia cannot be announced now on behalf of the government and the government would definitely help the families of those who died and also the injured after the elections, she added.

The district Collector has been directed to act as per law, the minister added.

(With PTI inputs)