At least 34 people have been killed and 35 others injured in an explosion at a chemical factory in India.The incident took place in the Pasamailaram industrial area of Sangareddy district, located in the southern Indian state of Telangana. A blast in a reactor at the site triggered a massive fire, resulting in the casualties. The news was reported on Tuesday (1 July) by the BBC.According to local authorities, the explosion occurred at the Sigachi Chemicals factory. So far, four victims have been identified, while efforts are ongoing to identify the remaining 30 deceased.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief on social media platform X, stating,“I am deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the factory fire in Sangareddy, Telangana. Our condolences go out to those who lost their loved ones. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.”He also announced compensation from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, with ₹200,000 to be provided to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 to each of the injured.Indian media reports state that on Monday morning, a loud explosion was suddenly heard from the chemical factory in Pasamailaram. Locals rushed to the site and saw that the factory’s roof had blown off and landed about 100 meters away, while thick black smoke was billowing from inside.Initially, the death toll was reported as 12, with several others injured. However, the number of fatalities gradually rose. After firefighters brought the blaze under control, rescue operations began by clearing the rubble, and more bodies were recovered.Telangana’s Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha stated that the explosion caused the roof of the factory to blow off, and many workers were thrown 100 meters from the site. According to the local administration, around 90 people were working in the factory at the time of the explosion.Preliminary reports suggest that a chemical reaction in the pharmaceutical manufacturing facility may have caused the blast. However, authorities said nothing can be confirmed until a complete investigation is concluded.The opposition party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), has demanded a thorough and transparent investigation and increased pressure on the ruling Congress government in Telangana. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Governor Dr. C. V. Ananda Bose (Jishnu Dev Varma in earlier reports) have both expressed their condolences over the tragedy.
