Daijiworld Media Network – Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Jul 1: A devastating explosion that tore through the multi-storey Sigachi Industries chemical plant in Telangana’s Medak district has claimed the lives of at least 35 workers, with several others still missing as frantic rescue operations continue for the third consecutive day.
The powerful blast, which occurred early Monday morning, reduced the building to rubble and sparked a massive fire that left many bodies charred beyond recognition. Authorities fear the toll may rise further as rescuers dig through the debris, hoping to locate survivors or recover the remains of those trapped beneath the collapsed structure.

The tragedy unfolded at the Rs 500-crore Sigachi facility, located around 50 kilometres from Hyderabad, which manufactures microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Preliminary reports suggest that a malfunction in a dryer unit in the factory’s quality control section may have triggered the blast. The intensity of the explosion was such that it not only destroyed the main unit but also caused partial damage to the adjacent HR block and compound wall.
Among those confirmed dead is A Loganan, the plant’s general manager in charge of attendance, who had just arrived at the premises moments before the explosion. His death has complicated efforts to determine the exact number of workers present inside the building at the time of the incident.
The deceased include workers from various states such as Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, reflecting the plant’s diverse labour force. As families from across the country rush to Medak in search of their loved ones, scenes of heart-wrenching despair have gripped hospitals and the blast site, with relatives pleading for information.
Forensic teams have been deployed to the government area hospital in Patancheru, where DNA testing is being carried out to help identify the charred remains. Only four victims have been identified so far, highlighting the severity of the explosion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the incident and announced ex gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who is set to visit the victims’ families and the injured, has directed senior officials to oversee the rescue and relief operations on a war footing. A high-level five-member committee has also been formed to investigate the cause of the explosion and recommend safety measures to prevent such incidents in future.
Sigachi Industries, in a brief note to the stock exchanges, confirmed that an “accident occurred in the vicinity” of its Medak plant, without offering further details.
With over 200 personnel from fire services, SDRF and NDRF engaged in rescue operations, authorities continue to work tirelessly amid mounting debris and uncertainty. The absence of a proper roster of workers inside the building at the time of the blast has made the situation more complex, raising concerns over safety protocols and accountability.
As the search continues, Medak district is gripped in mourning, and the nation watches with a heavy heart as families cling to hope and demand answers in the aftermath of one of the state’s deadliest industrial tragedies in recent times.