The death toll in the blast at Sigachi Industries Pvt. Ltd., in Pashamylaram industrial area in Sangareddy district has risen to 44, with Area Hospital, Patancheru, continuing to receive the charred remains of victims throughout the night. Hospital authorities fear the toll may increase further as more bodies are expected to be recovered.
Nearly 24 hours after the deadly blast, search operations are still underway both at the site and in nearby areas for 12 individuals who remain missing.
Swamy Goud, an official from the Sangareddy police said that the whereabouts of these 12 individuals are unknown. “We are searching for them in the debris and other places. It might take more than a few hours,” he said. Overnight rain in Pashamylaram affected rescue operations.
Given the severity of the burns and the condition of the remains, hospital staff began collecting DNA samples late Monday night. “DNA tests were conducted on around 20 bodies overnight. We are continuing the process of collecting and storing samples. Once the DNA matches are confirmed with their relatives, the bodies will be handed over for transportation to their respective native places,” said Srinivas Reddy, superintendent of Area Hospital Patancheru.
“The DNA collected is being sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for profiling and comparison with reference samples from family members to confirm identities. Telangana has not witnessed a mass casualty of this scale in recent times. This is going to be an extremely demanding task for all of us,” explained one of the attending doctors.
Officials confirmed that 143 individuals were at the facility at the time of the explosion. As of now, 44 people have been declared dead. However, only four of the deceased have been identified, the remaining DNA tests are being conducted for the 40 bodies that were charred beyond recognition. Those identified include Jagan Mohan, Ram Singh, Shashi Bhushan Kumar and Lagnajith.
The rescue and identification efforts have so far accounted for 57 people who were found and are safe. Another 34 workers are currently under medical treatment in various hospitals across the region. .
These include staff members such as Rizawana, Sushma, B Hena Sunadar, G Yashwanth, P Ablilash, P Rajshaker Reddy, Abishak Kumar, and M Diva. Workers include Chandan Kumar Naik, Arjun Kumar, Dev Chand Kumar and Kamlesh Mukya.
Emergency personnel, forensic experts, and disaster response teams have been working around the clock since the incident.
Families of the victims have gathered outside hospitals and the site, demanding answers and accountability. The State Government has promised compensation and a full probe into the incident, even as grief and uncertainty continue to hang heavy over Pashamylaram.
