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It was only his second day at work. On June 30, 24-year-old Bheem Rao, a native of Kamareddy district in Telangana, left home for his new job at Sigachi Industries near Hyderabad, full of hope for a better future for his young family. By the end of the day, his life was hanging by a thread, and his family’s world had shattered.

“He came back fine the first day. Yesterday was his second day, and the blast happened. The doctor says he is critical… there is not much hope,” Bheem’s wife Sonu told reporters, as their five-month-old baby blissfully waved her tiny arms at the sea of cameras, unaware of the tragedy that had befallen her family.

Bheem is one of the many workers caught in the devastating blast at Sigachi Industries’ pharmaceutical unit in Pashamylaram, Sangareddy district, on Monday, June 30. The massive explosion reduced the entire three-storey factory to rubble, killing 36 people, leaving at least 16 still untraceable, and pushing dozens more into hospitals fighting for their lives.

For Bheem’s family, the hours since the explosion have been a blur of panic, fear, and despair. His sisters, brother-in-law, and nephew rushed to Hyderabad from their native village in Kamareddy district as soon as they heard the news. But for families of many other workers, especially those from Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh, the long journey to Telangana is still underway; and they don’t even know what awaits them.

In Bheem Rao’s family, heartbreak is written on every face. His nephew Yevan recalled, “We spoke to him at 8 am yesterday. He said he was going to work, that he would call later. But after the news of the blast came on WhatsApp, we could not reach him. His phone was switched off.”

The struggle to identify bodies

While the Telangana government has set up a help desk at the site, the air is thick with uncertainty and grief. Sixteen bodies are so badly charred or mutilated that only DNA profiling can help identify them.

“This is the worst industrial accident the state has seen so far,” Chief Minister Revanth Reddy declared after visiting the site on Tuesday, July 1. “Officials are investigating whether those still missing are trapped under the debris or have managed to escape,” he added.

At the blast site, rescue workers and police continue to sift through the ruins with excavators, hoping to find survivors, but fear that they may only recover bodies beyond recognition. “Everything is burned beyond recognition. Even identifying body parts has become difficult,” one police officer admitted.

Among the desperate families is Mithilesh Mukhiya, who travelled from Darbhanga in Bihar, searching for his brother Laxmi Mukhiya, a 29-year-old Production Operator who has worked at the factory for a decade. “No one is letting us talk to the management or government officials. No one cares,” Mithilesh lamented.

The blast originated in the factory’s Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) drying unit , spread across all three floors. MCC is a common ingredient used in medicines.

Preliminary investigations suggest a possible buildup of temperature in the dryer as the cause of the explosion.

Forensic teams are racing against time to complete DNA tests on the unidentified bodies, hoping to give grieving families some closure. “We need samples from parents or children of the victims. If they are not available, siblings’ samples will help,” one forensic scientist said.

Meanwhile, stories of narrow escapes and terror from survivors are emerging. “Suddenly, there was a gust of wind, and we fell down. When we got up, there were flames everywhere. Some of us jumped the wall to escape,” recalled Yashwanth, who worked in the store unit of the factory.

As grief and anger simmer, CM Revanth Reddy has announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the deceased, Rs 10 lakh for those permanently disabled, and Rs 5 lakh for those temporarily injured. The children of the deceased will also be offered education in state-run residential schools, he said.

But the Chief Minister’s visit also raised questions. Where was the top management of Sigachi Industries? “If you’re so busy, why are you running factories?” asked Industries Minister Sridhar Babu, warning that the government would not take the matter lightly.

BRS’s Harish Rao voiced concerns about the recurring industrial accidents in Pashamylaram, urging the government to enforce stricter safety norms.

A high-powered committee has now been formed to investigate the tragedy. The committee comprises Chief Secretary, Special Chief Secretary (Disaster Management), Principal Secretary (Labour), Principal Secretary (Health), and Additional DGP (Fire Services).