14 dead, 35 injured in blast at Telangana chemical factory, CM Revanth Reddy orders probe
Hyderabad's Patancheru Factory Blast Update: As many as 11 of those who were rescued are critically injured and are under treatment at private hospitals at Patancheru, near Pashamylaram.
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| Firefighters try to extinguish a fire that broke out in a chemical factory, at Pashamylaram, in Medak district, Telangana. (PTI) |
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At least 14 people, most of them workers, died and 35 others were injured in a blast that occurred at a chemical factory in Sangareddy district of Telangana on Monday. It was duty hours at Sigachi Chemicals in Pashamylaram industrial estate when the blast took place, trapping dozens of workers inside, Sangareddy police said.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy appointed a high-level committee to review and probe the mishap, and reveal its underlying causes. The five-member committee comprises Chief Secretary, Special Chief Secretary – Disaster Management, Principal Secretary (Labour), Principal Secretary (Health) and Additional DGP (Fire Services).
“In addition to probing this mishap, the panel would also submit a report on ways to prevent such accidents from reoccurring,” Reddy said in a statement.The first fire call was received at 9.30 am on Monday and the fire tenders were pressed to action a minute later. However, the intensity of the blast was such that the whole portion of the three-storey building was reduced to debris.
Rescue operations had to be held till late Monday evening to ascertain if people were still trapped alive in the building. A total of 61 people were on the site when the blast took place. “The manager of the building too died in the explosion. So we have not determined how many workers were affected by the fire,” a district administrative official said.
The chemical factory produces MCC or Microcrystalline Cellulose which is used in the pharmaceutical industry, police said. Sigachi chemicals, on its website, says it’s “an industry leader” in pharma components, nutraceuticals and food.
What could have caused the blast is “pressure building up inside the spray dryer”, a senior rescue official told the Indian Express. “Pressure seems to have built up when the workers were operating the spray dryer. Fine dust chemical particles too accelerated the blast and the subsequent fire,” the official explained. “We have decided to move even the last inch of debris to look for those trapped,” the official said.
Meanwhile, Patancheru MLA Mahipal Reddy alleged that the company was operating without following safety protocols. He accused the management of not revealing the total number of casualties. Reddy demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of the deceased and employment for the kin of both the injured and those killed.
As many as 11 of those who were rescued are critically injured and are under treatment at private hospitals at Patancheru, near Pashamylaram.
“One of the critically injured patients is on ventilator support,” a police source told The Indian Express.
Most of the injured have suffered from 20 to 50% burns, rescue team members said. “Most of those rescued have inhaled poisonous fumes and it will take 24 to 48 hours to see if their respiratory tracts can recuperate,” a senior rescuer said.
Eleven fire tenders were sent to the spot for rescue and relief operations, fire officials said. The State Disaster Response Force has also been pressed into action.
The ruling Congress government in a statement expressed “deep shock over the massive fire accident that occurred”. Compensation will be given to the families of the deceased and injured, it said.
Most of those who were working at the unit were from states including Bihar and UP, officials said. “Heartfelt condolences to the family members of the workers who lost their lives. Deeply saddened by the condition of injured workers who remain critical,” Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President Mahesh Kumar Goud said. Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha who visited the site said that all necessary treatment is being given to those injured. Labour Minister G Vivek Venkatswamy said that the state government is still assessing the number of workers who were present at the site.
BJP leader and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said, “Deeply saddened to hear about the fire accident…My heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives and prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured. The government of India stands in solidarity with those affected by this incident and will provide financial assistance to the bereaved families”.