Telangana blast: Toll hits 35, CM Revanth visits explosion site, announces ₹1 cr aid

Sangareddy (Telangana): The death toll from the explosion at the Sigachi Industries' pharma plant in Pashamylaram has risen to 35, police said on Tuesday. District Superintendent of Police Paritosh Pankaj told media reporters that the toll rose to 35. He, however, did not provide further details. "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 hospital while undergoing treatment. The last leg of the rescue operation is still going on," he said. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, accompanied by some of his cabinet colleagues, visited the accident site. When contacted, a senior official of Pranaam Hospitals in Miyapur said they received 21 patients on Monday with burns and head injuries. However, two were declared brought dead and one succumbed this morning.

A senior official of Dhruva Hospitals in Patancheru told PTI that they received 11 patients on Monday out of which two were referred to superspeciality hospitals. “Out of the Nine patients, five are on ventilators. We have seven patients with burns ranging from 40-80 per cent burns and two are with 10 per cent burns,” the official said. According to a revenue department official, the identity of nine bodies has only been established so far while the remaining need to undergo DNA profiling. Most of the deceased belonged to other states such Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar. 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.

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Tuesday said his government will engage with the management of Sigachi Industries Ltd to ensure that a compensation of Rs 1 crore is paid to the kin of those who died in the explosion at the pharma plant in Pashamylaram. Reddy, who visited the blast site, said the toll from the explosion rose to 36. The CM also said those who are seriously injured will receive Rs 10 lakh, while those who are injured but can resume work after some recovery will be provided Rs 5 lakh. “The state government will talk to the company management that Rs 1 crore each compensation will be paid to the deceased families. I have issued orders that from both the government side and company side Rs 1 Crore compensation will be paid,” the CM said.

Also, the state government will pay Rs 1 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured to meet any immediate and emergency expenses. According to information provided by the officials, most of the deceased were from Odisha, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. There were 143 people at the time of the blast out of which 56 are in touch with the officials. Search is on the rest of the people. “Thirty six people have lost their lives. Some are still missing. Officials are in the process of collecting information,” he said. Reddy further said the medical expenses for the injured will be borne by the state government and Sigachi. He asserted that action will be taken against those responsible for the unfortunate incident. Later, the CM visited the injured at the hospital.