The death toll in the Sigachi Industries pharma plant explosion in Pashamylaram has risen to 34, according to a senior police official on Tuesday.
“Several bodies have been found under the debris while removing it. As many as 31 bodies have been extricated from the debris, while three died in the hospital while undergoing treatment. The last leg of the rescue operation is still going on,” District Superintendent of Police Paritosh Pankaj informed, reported PTI.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy would visit the accident site on Tuesday morning, Health Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha said.
The fatal accident on Monday is suspected to have been caused by a chemical reaction.
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, according to the company`s website, reported news agency PTI.
On Monday, 12 people died and 34 persons were injured in a pharma plant explosion in this district on Monday, Telangana Minister Damodara Raja Narasimha said, reported news agency PTI.
“As many as 12 people died and 34 people are under treatment. We are hopeful that there will be no more (deaths),” the health minister told reporters.
Labour Minister G Vivek Venkatswamy said, “Eight people died in the morning. Now, four bodies were found,” reported PTI.
Both ministers visited the site.
The explosion took place at a reactor in the plant of the Sigachi pharma company in the Pashamylaram industrial estate due to a suspected chemical reaction, where fire also broke out.
Earlier, Inspector General of Police (Multizone) V Satyanarayana, quoting factory sources, said there were 150 people in the factory at the time of the blast. Ninety persons were in the same area where the explosion occurred, reported PTI.
He said the explosion occurred between 9.28 am and 9.35 am. The management immediately reached out to the local police, who in turn alerted the fire department, reported PTI.
About ten firefighting engines were pressed into service, he further said, adding the personnel of NDRF and SDRF were also engaged in the rescue operation.
The fire was brought under control, he added.
(With PTI inputs)