By : vivian-Rose Osabuohien
Rescue workers look for survivors after an explosion and fire at a chemical factory, in Sangareddy, in the southern state of Telangana, India, June 30th 2025.
The fire at a chemical factory in southern India on Monday led to the death of 40 people and left over 33 injured, Sigachi Industries (SIGC.NS), opens new tab said on Wednesday.
Operations at the plant will remain suspended for approximately 90 days, the company said in a statement.
The government of Telangana state, where the facility is located, has formed a five-member committee to probe the incident, the cause of which has yet to be disclosed.
“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,” the company said.
According to the government, 143 people were working at the plant at the time of the incident.
Sigachi makes microcrystalline cellulose, a vital ingredient in pharmaceutical manufacturing, and caters to clients in the pharma, food, cosmetic and specialty chemicals sectors in countries ranging from the U.S. to Australia.
As a result of the devastating fire break-out at Sigachi, the following has been confirmed :
Industries’ chemical factory in Telangana, southern India, resulting in 40 deaths and over 33 injuries.
Plant Operations: Operations at the plant will remain suspended for approximately 90 days, according to Sigachi Industries’ statement.
Compensation: The company announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 crore (10 million rupees) to the families of the deceased employees.
Incident Investigation: A five-member committee has been formed by the Telangana government to probe the incident and determine its cause.
Previous Reports: Initially, reports indicated that at least 39 people died in the factory fire, but the death toll later rose to 40.
Factory Overview: Over 140 people were working in the plant when the explosion occurred, with 25 of the deceased are declared missing (yet to be found).
Company Response: Sigachi Industries’ stock has drastically fell down to 7.5% to 42.62 rupees, its lowest level in over a month, following the incident.
Support Measures ; The company has concluded on taking care of those injured during the disaster and has also decided to provide support to the victim’s families.
(Sportday)
