What happened in the accident?
Between 8:15 am and 9:35 am, an explosion took place in the drying unit of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) in the Malaram industrial area near Sigachi Industries. Initial investigations suspect that the accident occurred due to pressure surge or chemical reaction in the dryer. The explosion was so powerful that some workers were thrown up to 100 meters away, and a large part of the building collapsed. The flames also engulfed nearby buildings, causing thick smoke to spread in the area.
Status of the dead and injured
36 people have been confirmed dead in the accident, many of whose bodies were so badly burnt that DNA profiling is being done to identify them. Around 35 people are injured, of which 14 are in critical condition. The deceased include migrant workers from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal. There were 143 workers present in the factory at the time.
Government action and compensation
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy visited the spot and announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of the deceased, Rs 10 lakh for the seriously injured and Rs 5 lakh for the minor injured. The central government also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured from the PM National Relief Fund.[](
Investigation and security questions
The Telangana government has formed a five-member committee to investigate the accident. The Bihar government has also started an investigation at its level. BJP MLA Payal Shankar has raised questions on the security protocol. Experts believe that the lack of regular security audits could be the reason for this accident.
What is next
This accident raises serious questions on industrial safety standards. Experts say that strict rules and regular inspections are necessary to prevent such incidents. Local people are also growing concerned about pollution and safety.
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