Sigachi Industries Blast: Nine Missing Amid Investigation

Sangareddy, Telangana, Jul 3 (PTI): The tragic explosion at Sigachi Industries' pharma plant in Pashamylaram continues to unfold grim details. As of now, nine individuals remain missing following the catastrophic blast that claimed 38 lives and injured 35 others, confirmed Superintendent of Police Paritosh Pankaj on Thursday.

Efforts to locate the missing are ongoing.

On Thursday, the attention turns to an expert committee appointed by the state government, tasked with investigating the causes and sequence of the explosion. This panel, led by Dr. B Venkateswar Rao, an Emeritus Scientist at CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, is expected to visit the affected site. They are to deliver a comprehensive report including specific suggestions and recommendations to the government within a month.

In a positive development, a senior district official noted that some of the injured individuals receiving treatment in various hospitals might be discharged today. "Death toll remains at 38. Nine people are missing. But maybe today or tomorrow, once we get the reports of bones and other things from the Forensic Science Lab (FSL), then things will be clear," SP Pankaj told PTI.

Pankaj further added that 90 percent of the debris has been removed, and no further bodies are expected to be discovered. However, he noted that if any human remains do surface, they will be sent for examination.

In light of the tragedy, Amit Raj Sinha, Managing Director & CEO of Sigachi, addressed allegations concerning the use of old machinery at the facility. He clarified that although the facility itself is old, the machinery in use is not. Sinha also suggested that the disaster might have been caused by a dust explosion in the dry section, rather than a reactor explosion. In response to the incident, Sigachi has announced a solatium of Rs 1 crore each for the families of the deceased.

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