The death toll from a massive explosion at a chemical factory in India’s southern Telangana state has climbed to 35, as rescue efforts continued for a second day on Tuesday.
The blast occurred on Monday in the Sangareddy district, reducing parts of the facility to rubble and scattering twisted metal across the site.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy visited the site on Tuesday. A video released by his office showed the scale of the destruction.
A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that “at least 35 people” had been killed, with search operations still ongoing. An official committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the explosion.
Industrial accidents are frequent in India, often blamed on inadequate planning and poor enforcement of safety regulations.
Sigachi Industries, the factory’s owner, which manufactures chemicals for pharmaceuticals, food, and cosmetics, said in a statement that the incident had resulted in “the unfortunate loss of human life.”