A devastating explosion at a pharmaceutical plant in southern India has left at least 39 people dead and dozens more hospitalized, according to officials. The blast occurred on Monday, June 30, at the Sigachi Industries chemical factory located in the state of Telangana, about 31 miles from the city of Hyderabad.
Initial reports confirmed that at least 34 bodies were pulled from the rubble, while two additional victims who were transported to local hospitals later succumbed to their injuries. As of Tuesday, July 1, Reuters reported the death toll had climbed to 39, citing updates from local authorities.
The explosion tore through the Sigachi facility — a plant known for manufacturing microcrystalline cellulose, a key ingredient in pharmaceutical production. According to police, over 140 workers were inside the building at the time of the explosion, which caused a full structural collapse.
“We are still clearing the debris,” said G.V. Narayana Rao, Director of Telangana’s Fire Disaster Response Service. “Only once the site is fully cleared will we know if any more victims are trapped underneath.”
In addition to those killed, nearly three dozen employees were hospitalized with burn injuries and other trauma. District official P. Pravinya told Al Jazeera that at least 25 of the recovered bodies remain unidentified due to the severity of the burns.
Telangana Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha said a special medical team has been deployed to conduct DNA tests on the remains. “As the bodies were badly burned and mutilated, we’re relying on forensic identification,” he said.
The state government has launched a formal investigation into the explosion and has formed a committee to determine its cause. Sigachi Industries has yet to release a statement identifying what triggered the blast, but the company announced it would suspend operations at the site for 90 days, citing serious damage to its core manufacturing infrastructure.
According to the company’s website, Sigachi Industries is the world’s largest producer of microcrystalline cellulose — a substance commonly used as a binder in tablet medications. In a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange on Monday, the company said it would conduct a full assessment of the damage.
PEOPLE has reached out to Sigachi Industries for comment but has not received a response. Attempts to contact the Telangana Fire Disaster Response agency were also unsuccessful.
As rescue crews continue to sift through the rubble, the tragedy has reignited concerns over industrial safety standards in India’s fast-growing chemical and pharmaceutical sectors — where outdated equipment, lax oversight, and insufficient worker protections have previously contributed to deadly accidents.
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