At least 36 people were killed and 36 others injured after a massive explosion triggered a fire at a chemical plant owned by Sigachi Industries in India’s southern state of Telangana, a senior fire department official confirmed on Tuesday.
GV Narayana Rao, Director of Telangana Fire Disaster Response and Emergency Services, said, “We are still clearing the debris… the building has collapsed and is completely destroyed. Only after the site is fully cleared can we confirm whether more bodies remain trapped underneath.”
The explosion occurred on Monday at Sigachi’s facility, which produces microcrystalline cellulose — a compound widely used in food production and pharmaceuticals. The fire quickly engulfed the structure, causing widespread destruction and a full building collapse.
The affected factory is one of three Sigachi operates across India and accounts for more than a quarter of its total production capacity of 21,700 million metric tons per annum.
While the company has not disclosed the exact cause of the explosion, it has announced a 90-day suspension of operations at the site, citing significant damage to equipment and infrastructure.
