At least four workers from Odisha were killed and four others injured in the explosion at a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility of Sigachi Industries in the Pashamylaram Industrial Area in Telangana’s Sangareddy district on Monday, an officer said on Wednesday, July 2.
So far, 36 people have been killed and several others injured in the powerful blast at the pharmaceutical manufacturing unit of Sigachi Industries.
The four injured workers have sustained severe burn injuries are undergoing treatment, reports said.
The deceased workers from Odisha have been identified as R Jaganmohan from Chatrapur area in Ganjam district, Lagnajit Duari from Tigiria area in Cuttack district, Manoj Rout from Simulia in Balasore district and Dolagovind Sahu from Dharmasala in Jajpur district, informed Pritish Panda, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) from Directorate of Odisha Parivaar.
Panda along with another officer have been rushed to the spot on the instruction of the Odisha government to extend necessary support to the people from the state.
Pritish Panda, Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Directorate of Odisha Parivaar, who was on the spot, said, “According to the information received from the local district administration, four people from Odisha were killed in the explosion and another four people, one of them seriously, are injured and undergoing treatment.”
The injured persons have been identified as Samir Padhi of Ganjam district, Chandan Kumar Nayak of Bhadrak, Nilambar Bhadra of Nabarangpur and Chitrasen Batra. Among the injured persons, Samir Padhi is in serious condition with 35 per cent burn injuries and he is in ICU, the officer further informed.
The bodies of people from Odisha have been sent to their native places through ambulances on Monday, said Panda.
“The local administration informed us that 143 people were working in the factory when the blast took place. Many of them were engaged through contractors in the non-formal sector, for which it was difficult to say how many Odia people were working there,” Panda said.
Sigachi Industries announces Rs 1 crore ex-gratia to kin of deceased
Meanwhile, Sigachi Industries today clarified that the accident at its Pashamailaram factory, that is being said as the deadliest in India’s pharma sector, was not caused by blast in the reactor as was being initially surmised.
The company, however, did not cite the exact reason that actually triggered the explosion and stated it will give updates they receive information from further investigation.
Further, confirming the accident resulted in the loss of lives of 40 employees and left over 33 injured, Sigachi Industries announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 1 crore to the families of the deceased and those injured would receive full medical and rehabilitation.
“It is with anguish that we share details of the accident that occurred at the Sigachi Industries facility in Pashamylaram, Telangana, resulting in the loss of 40 valued team members and one that left over 33 injured. Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragic accident,” Sigachi said in the official statement.
“Since the time of the accident, we have been coordinating the emergency response, family support, and extending cooperation with the investigation and compliance efforts. Sigachi Industries Ltd has committed to an ex-gratia compensation of INR 1-Crore to the families of the deceased, while those injured will receive full medical and rehabilitation support,” it announced.
“As we await the results of the investigation, we would like to clarify that the accident was not caused by a reactor explosion at the plant, as mentioned in sections of the media. We will continue to send updates as we receive information from the investigations,” the company clarified.
“Our plant operations will remain temporarily suspended for approximately 90 days,” the company added.
