The death toll from the devastating explosion at a chemical factory in Telangana has risen to 42, as more bodies were recovered during ongoing rescue operations on Tuesday.
The toll, which stood at 12 on Monday night, increased to 34 by Tuesday morning and has since grown further, according to officials.
“Several bodies were discovered beneath the debris during the clearance work. The final phase of the rescue operation is still underway,” Superintendent of Police Paritosh Pankaj told PTI.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is expected to visit the site of the incident later on Tuesday.
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Details of the Incident
The explosion, suspected to have been caused by a reactor malfunction, occurred on Monday at the Sigachi Chemical Industry in Pashamylaram, sparking a massive fire.
State Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha stated that around 90 workers were present in the facility at the time of the explosion.
“The blast was so powerful that it destroyed the entire industrial shed. Some workers were reportedly flung up to 100 meters away,” he said, citing eyewitness accounts.
In the immediate aftermath, rescue teams recovered at least 10 bodies as fire and emergency crews began operations.
While the exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation, a chemical reaction is believed to have triggered the incident.
Rescue Efforts and Reactions
Rescue operations are being carried out by teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), HYDRAA, and the Telangana Fire Disaster Response unit.
Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. He extended his condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
The Governor also spoke with M. Dan Kishore, Principal Secretary of Labour, Employment, Training and Factories (LETF), directing him to ensure full support and assistance to all those affected by the blast.
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