At Least 8 Dead in Explosion and Fire at Pharmaceutical Factory in Southern India

New Delhi — A devastating explosion followed by a fire at a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in the southern Indian state of Telangana has claimed the lives of at least eight people and left several others injured, officials confirmed on Monday.

The incident occurred in an industrial area roughly 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Hyderabad, the state capital. Fire officials recovered the charred remains of six workers at the site, while two more succumbed to severe burn injuries at a nearby hospital, according to G.V. Narayana Rao, Director of the Telangana State Fire Services.

Emergency crews continue to sift through the debris of the destroyed unit, part of Sigachi Industries, to determine if additional workers may still be trapped.

“The explosion occurred in a spray dryer unit, a component used to convert raw materials into fine powder for pharmaceutical production,” Rao explained.

India is a key player in the global pharmaceutical industry, supplying a significant share of the world’s generic medicines and vaccines. Its cost-effective production capabilities and extensive infrastructure have attracted major pharmaceutical companies from around the world.

However, industrial accidents remain a concern, particularly in chemical processing facilities. This latest tragedy underscores ongoing challenges with safety enforcement and the urgent need for stricter regulatory oversight in a sector crucial to global public health.

Sigachi Industries Limited, the company involved in the incident, manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates, and vitamin-mineral blends. According to its website, the company operates five manufacturing facilities across India and maintains subsidiaries in both the United States and the United Arab Emirates.