The death toll from the June 30 explosion at Sigachi Industries Ltd’s pharmaceutical plant in Pashamylaram, Sangareddy district, has risen to 44, with two more workers succumbing to severe burns in hospital, District Superintendent of Police Paritosh Pankaj confirmed on Tuesday.

The blast, suspected to be caused by a pressure buildup in a spray dryer unit processing microcrystalline cellulose, leveled a three-story building, trapping workers under debris. Eight individuals remain missing, with rescue operations ongoing, Pankaj told PTI. Of the 143 workers present during the incident, 61 were unharmed, while 14 are still receiving treatment for injuries, primarily burns, at various hospitals.

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who visited the site, announced ₹1 crore compensation for families of the deceased, ₹10 lakh for those severely injured, and ₹5 lakh for others with injuries. Immediate relief of ₹1 lakh per deceased worker’s family and ₹50,000 for the injured has been disbursed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also pledged ₹2 lakh from the PMNRF for each victim’s kin and ₹50,000 for the injured.

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A five-member committee, led by Dr. B. Venkateswar Rao, is investigating the cause, with allegations of outdated machinery and safety lapses surfacing. A police FIR has been filed against Sigachi’s management for culpable homicide, based on claims of neglected equipment warnings. The company denies these allegations, asserting the explosion was not reactor-related, and has halted operations for 90 days to assess damage, which affects over a quarter of its production capacity.

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