By Morteza Ahmadi Al Hashem
The fire department recovered the charred bodies of six workers in an industrial area about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the state capital Hyderabad (31 miles), the state鈥檚 fire services director G.V. Narayana Rao told The AP.
Two other workers succumbed to burns and were pronounced dead at a hospital, Rao said, adding that debris of the gutted pharmaceutical unit of Sigachi Industries was being removed to find out if any more workers were trapped.
鈥淚t was an explosion in a spray dryer unit of the factory, which is used to process raw material into fine powder for making drugs,鈥 Rao said.
India is home to some of the world鈥檚 top pharmaceutical companies, playing a pivotal role in the global supply of generic medicines and vaccines. The country鈥檚 robust manufacturing and cost-effective production have made it a hub for pharma giants.
Industrial accidents, particularly involving chemical reactors, aren鈥檛 uncommon in such factories, underlining the need for authorities to implement stringent safety protocols and regulatory oversight in a sector critical to public health.
Sigachi Industries Limited is an Indian company dealing with active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates and vitamin-mineral blends, according to the company鈥檚 website. It has five manufacturing facilities across India, and also subsidiaries in the USand the United Arab Emirates.