TGPCB orders closure of Saraca Laboratories after chloroform leak

The Telangana Pollution Control Board (TGPCB) has ordered the closure of Saraca Laboratories Ltd. following a chloroform vapour leakage incident that claimed two lives in Hyderabad. The board also directed the power utility to disconnect electricity supply to the unit.

Hyderabad: Following the chloroform vapour leakage incident that claimed two lives, Telangana Pollution Control Board (TGPCB) on Friday issued a closure order to M/s. Saraca Laboratories Ltd. The Board directed the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited to disconnect the electricity supply to the industry.

This decision follows an inspection by the TGPCB officials who probed the incident at the industry on Friday.

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The industry representatives informed officials that the chloroform vapour leakage occurred at around 11.30 pm on October 22 (Thursday) 2026. Two persons who were exposed to the vapours and became unconscious were shifted to Narayana Hospital, where the duty doctor declared them dead.

The PCB officials were informed that the leakage occurred during the layer separation process while transferring chloroform from the reactor located on the first floor to the receiver on the ground floor in production block-2. The leaked chloroform vapours rapidly spread throughout the area.

“Considering the seriousness of the incident, the Telangana Pollution Control Board issued closure orders to M/s. Saraca Laboratories Ltd. without providing an opportunity of hearing to the industry,” TGPCB said.