Reuters
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The number of deaths from the explosion and fire at Sigc.NS Chemical Factory in Sigachi Industries in southern India has risen to at least 39, officials said on Tuesday that suppliers of Pharma products were forced to close operations for 90 days.
The Telangana government, where the facility is located, has established a five-person committee to investigate the incident. The cause has not been disclosed by the company yet.
Officials said Monday’s explosion also injured 34 people.
“We’re still cleaning up the wreckage,” GV Narayana Rao, director of Telangana Fire and Disaster Response Services, told Reuters, adding that the building had completely collapsed.
“Once we all finish the clearing, we can assess whether other bodies are still under the wreckage and whether it’s all clear,” Rao said.
Officers said more than 140 people were working in the factory when the incident occurred. Twenty-five of the deceased have not been identified yet, said district administration official P. Pravinina.
“I came out (of the plant) and blew out loud using the toilet. It sounded like a bomb. I came out and set it on fire. Some of the fire spread towards me too. I jumped onto the wall and ran away.”
“Many of them (inside) managed to get away, but a lot of them were trapped and didn’t come out,” Gown added.
Sigachi, which manufactures microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), serves clients in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics and specialty chemical sectors of the country, from the US to Australia.
The compression rate, binding properties, and ability to enhance drug release of MCCs become important components in pharmaceutical manufacturing. It also prevents the formation of clumps in food, maintains the texture of cosmetics, and is used as a fat replacement for low-calorie foods.
Sigachi’s Telangana plant contributes one-quarter of its total capacity to over 21,700 million tons per year.
Its stock fell about 8% on Tuesday, heading towards the sharpest two-day decline on record.
Sigachi has stopped working at the factory for 90 days starting Monday, citing damage to equipment and structures. The factory is fully insured and the company has begun claims.
Five people were killed in another incident on Tuesday, and four others were injured in a massive fire at a cracker factory in Shivakasi manufacturing cluster in southern Tamil Nadu, the fire department said. The incident is the latest in a series of fire accidents in the area.
