Factory blast in India kills 39, cause remains unclear

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 39 people have been killed in an explosion at a pharmaceutical factory in the Indian state of Telangana, a media report said on Tuesday.

According to a Reuters, the cause of the blast has yet to be determined. However, Telangana state authorities have appointed a five-member committee to investigate the incident.

On Monday, an explosion occurred at a chemical facility of Sigachi Industries leading to a fire, the police said.

Local officials confirmed that 39 people lost their lives and 34 others were injured in the blast.

A large rescue operation was launched to extinguish the flames and clear the rubble, with excavators deployed at the site of the factory.

GV Narayana Rao, director of the fire response team, confirmed the factory had completely collapsed due to the explosion.

He said: “We are still clearing the debris and once we are all done with the clearing, only then we will be able to assess if any other body is still remaining under the debris or if it is all clear.”

Terrified plant worker Chandan Gound, 32, added: “I came out [of the plant] to use the restroom and heard a loud blast.

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