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Overheating Blamed for Rare and Deadly Blast at Telangana Factory
A deadly explosion at Sigachi Industries in Telangana’s Sangareddy district has left 36 workers dead and raised alarms across the industrial sector. The blast occurred at the company’s facility in Pashamylaram, where microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is produced from wood pulp—a substance used in pharmaceutical capsules.
Investigators say the blast was caused by extreme overheating, a scenario described by experts as a “rarest of rare” case. Factory inspector Ranganath emphasized that no such overheating incidents have been recorded previously at this scale. The explosion was so intense that entire sections of the factory collapsed, leading to a mass casualty event.
Authorities have registered a case against the factory’s management under serious charges, including attempt to culpable homicide and voluntarily causing grievous harm. The company, which has been operating for over three decades, had heat-control mechanisms in place to maintain both safety and product quality, according to officials. However, it remains unclear whether those systems failed or were bypassed.
Tragically, the explosion happened during a shift change, with workers from both general and night shifts attending a meeting at the time. This led to a higher-than-usual number of workers being present in the blast zone, significantly increasing casualties and injuries.
Despite the gravity of the incident, no arrests have been made yet. Authorities continue their investigation into operational lapses and potential negligence. This catastrophic event has spotlighted the urgent need for stricter safety protocols in chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.
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