Telangana factory blast: Death toll rises to 36; CM Reddy announces ₹1 crore compensation

The death toll from the devastating explosion at the Sigachi Industries pharma plant in Pashamylaram has tragically risen to 36, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy confirmed on Tuesday. Following a visit to the blast site, CM Reddy announced a significant compensation package, stating that the kin of each deceased individual will receive ₹1 crore, a sum to be jointly contributed by the state government and the company management.

In addition to the compensation for fatalities, Chief Minister Reddy also detailed financial assistance for the injured. Those who sustained serious injuries in the blast will be provided with ₹10 lakh, while individuals with injuries who are expected to recover and resume work will receive ₹5 lakh. Furthermore, the state government will disburse an immediate aid of ₹1 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 to the injured to help cover immediate and emergency expenses. Officials have noted that many of the deceased were migrant workers from states including Odisha, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, in addition to Telangana.

Initial investigations suggest that a suspected reactor explosion on Monday triggered the blast and subsequent fire at the Sigachi Chemical Industry. The sheer force of the explosion reportedly flattened the industrial shed and threw some workers a considerable distance. While 143 people were present at the time of the incident, 56 have made contact with authorities, and efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining missing persons. Chief Minister Reddy assured that the medical expenses for all injured individuals would be borne by both the state government and Sigachi Industries, and he vowed to take stringent action against those found responsible for the tragic incident.