On Monday, June 30, 2025, a massive explosion ripped through Sigachi Industries Private Limited, a pharmaceutical unit in Pashamylaram near Hyderabad, killing as many as 17 people and injuring another 30. A majority of the victims were trapped under the production unit housing the reactor when it collapsed.

 Five of the persons were charred in the fire.  We (NDRF) alone managed to pull out around 30 workers from under the rubble.  Some 25 of them were rushed to three nearby hospitals with varying degrees of burns and injuries,” said NDRF Deputy Commander Damodar Singh.

 Migrants from West Bengal and Bihar make up the majority of the unit's staff. One of them shared that the factory had 12-hour work shifts from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.  It is believed that around 80 workers were employed in the production unit at the time of the blast. Officials indicated that while the blast caused the initial devastation, many lives were lost due to the subsequent collapse of the building.

 The Fire Control Room received the distress call shortly before 9:37 a.m., after which 15 fire tenders, including robots, hazmats, and multipurpose vehicles, were deployed.  Vehicles were rushed from as far as Secunderabad (40 km) and Rajendranagar Fire Stations (45 km).  Rescue efforts continued late into the evening, with teams carefully combing through the debris for any survivors or victims.

Panic and fear gripped the industrial belt of Pashamylaram as plumes of smoke, the wail of sirens, and a stream of ambulances and emergency vehicles descended upon the site of the deadly explosion.  As one approached the shattered remains of Sigachi Industries, the air near the blast zone was thick and heavy, making it difficult to breathe. The explosion broke the window panes of nearby offices. Initially all of the injured individuals were rushed to Kakatiya Hospital, located 3.8 kilometres from the blast site.  They were then moved to Dhruva Hospital, Pranam Hospital, Archana Hospital, Star Hospital, Yashoda Hospital in Madhapur, and Panacea Meridian Hospital near Beeramguda, depending on the severity of their injuries. 

Director of Factories Rajagopal Rao said that the unit was engaged in the manufacture of Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC), a white, odourless, tasteless powder derived from wood pulp.  “It is widely used as a binding agent in tablets and in various industries including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food.  While not inherently hazardous, officials are investigating the possibility that pressure build-up in the air-handling line may have caused the blast.  Preliminary assessments suggest that the air handling unit may have exploded,” explained the officer.

 An official inquiry is underway to determine the exact cause of the disaster.
 The Patancheru police have registered a case against the management of Sigachi Industries Pvt Ltd following a complaint lodged by Sai Yashwanth, the son of Jagan Mohan, one of the victims killed in the blast.