Telangana Sigachi tragedy: Two blasts occurred within fraction of second, say experts

TPJAC members and a former IICT scientist blamed Sigachi Industries management and officials for the Sangareddy explosion that killed over 50 people. They cited safety lapses and poor inspections, demanding stricter oversight of industrial safety by the Telangana government

Sangareddy: Experts and social activists led by Telangana People’s Joint Action Committee (TPJAC), who visited the Sigachi industries accident site on Sunday and interacted with the kin of victims, held the management of Sigachi Industries and officials responsible, as they failed to inspect the industry regularly.

Speaking to reporters after their visit, former IICT scientist Kalapala Babu Rao said two blasts occurred within a fraction of a second, which resulted in a major disaster. Babu Rao said the first blast occurred in a spray drier, and the other due to combustible dust of micro-crystalline cellulose.

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He said the blast occurred due to prolonged negligence in maintaining safety protocol. Since the industry has been operating for the last 35 years, he said the management never thought that such a massive blast would occur.

Rao said the maintenance of machinery by removing combustible dust would have avoided such a massive disaster that claimed over 50 lives and left an equal number of people injured. He accused the industry management of failing to maintain safety protocol. Rao also said the inspector of factories failed to keep the management alert.

The TPJAC team also visited Dhruva Hospital and other hospitals where the injured in the Sigachi accident were undergoing treatment till now. They interacted with their kin and the residents of Isnapur and Pashamylaram to know the impact of the blast.

The team demanded that the government ensure the offices inspect the industries from time to time in the days to come. TPJAC State convenor Kanneganti Ravi, district convenor Ashok Kumar, and others were present.