At least 12 killed in explosion and fire at a pharmaceutical factory in southern India

NEW DELHI — An explosion and fire at a pharmaceutical factory in India’s southern state of Telangana killed at least 12 people and injured several others, authorities said Monday.

The fire department recovered the bodies of 10 workers in an industrial area about 31 miles from the state capital, Hyderabad, the state’s fire services director G.V. Narayana Rao told the Associated Press.

Two other workers succumbed to burns and were pronounced dead at a hospital, Rao said, adding that debris of the gutted pharmaceutical unit of Sigachi Industries was being removed to find out if any more workers were trapped. Nearly three dozen injured workers were admitted to hospitals. he said.

“It was an explosion in a spray dryer unit of the factory, which is used to process raw material into fine powder for making drugs,” Rao said.

India is home to some of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies, playing a pivotal role in the global supply of generic medicines and vaccines. The country’s robust manufacturing and cost-effective production have made it a hub for pharma giants.

Industrial accidents, particularly involving chemical reactors, aren’t uncommon in such factories, underlining the need for authorities to implement stringent safety protocols and regulatory oversight in a sector critical to public health.

Sigachi Industries Limited is an Indian company dealing with active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates and vitamin-mineral blends, according to the company’s website. It has five manufacturing facilities across India, and also subsidiaries in the U.S and the United Arab Emirates.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a social media post expressed his anguish over the loss of lives and announced financial support of 200,000 Indian rupees ($2,333) each to the next of kin.

Roy writes for the Associated Press.