Telangana factory blast: DNA tests fail to identify eight missing workers

Officials suspect that the missing persons have been completely burnt to ashes. Until now, a total of 44 people have been confirmed killed in the dryer explosion that occurred at Sigachi Industries in Pashamylaram, Sangareddy district on June 30.

Hyderabad: As identification continues, none of the 100 samples of body parts found in the debris at the Sigachi Industries blast site have matched with the DNA of family members of the eight missing workers.

Consequently, on Wednesday, Sangareddy district officials advised the families of the missing workers, who have been anxiously waiting to return to their native places, that identification may be delayed.

Officials suspect that the missing persons have been completely burnt to ashes. As interim relief, the government has decided to provide Rs 15 lakhs to each of the missing workers' families. After further analysis leads to a conclusion and the workers are officially declared dead, the remaining amount from the Rs 1 crore ex gratia announced earlier will be disbursed to the families.

Until now, a total of 44 people have been confirmed killed in the dryer explosion that occurred at Sigachi Industries in Pashamylaram, Sangareddy district on June 30. The blood samples were collected on Sunday and dispatched to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) for testing. The eight missing individuals have been identified as, Rahul Kumar Sharma (Uttar Pradesh), G Venkatesh, (Andhra Pradesh), S Ravi (Telangana), S Justin (Telangana), Vijay Kumar Nishad (Bihar), Akilesh Kuka Nishad (Bihar), Irfan Ansari (Jharkhand) and Shivaji Kumar.

Sangareddy Additional Collector Chandrashekar held a meeting with the relatives of the eight missing workers on Wednesday morning and conducted a counselling session with them. The families were counselled by officials at the rehabilitation centre set up in the Pashamylaram industrial area.

Shocked by the statement, the relatives expressed anguish over the lack of closure. However, officials assured them that the process of issuing death certificates would be completed within three months.

On the fateful day of June 30, around 143 people were present on the factory premises. Sigachi Industries, incorporated in 1989, manufactures Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) and pharmaceutical powders with a diversified presence in pharmaceuticals, food, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics sectors. The company employs workers from various states across India and operates five manufacturing facilities across the country, including the one in Pashamylaram, Hyderabad.

MCC, which is used in pharmaceutical manufacturing, can add weight to drugs and facilitate active ingredients to function effectively while helping drugs conform to weight specifications.

Sources in the pharmaceutical industry said that while the production of MCC, considered a safe substance, does involve risky processes, these can be managed safely if appropriate procedures are followed by trained personnel.