India: 12 killed in Telangana pharmaceutical factory blast – DW – 06/30/2025
At least 12 people were killed and dozens more injured following an explosion and fire at a pharmaceutical factory near the southern Indian city of Hyderabad on Monday.
Footage broadcast by local news outlets showed the Sigachi Industries factory in the Sangareddy district of Telangana reduced to ruins and plumes of black smoke billowing into the air.
Firefighters said they recovered the charred corpses of 10 workers while around 30 others were admitted to hospital, where two later succumbed to burns and were also pronounced dead.
Indian Labor Minister Vivek Venkataswamy also confirmed that "several injured people have been hospitalized."
"It was an explosion in a spray dryer unit of the factory, which is used to process raw material into fine powder for making drugs," said a fire department spokesman, without specifying what exactly caused the blast. "We are continuing to search the rubble for other bodies."
A total of 65 workers were in the factory at the time of the explosion, according to the
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his anguish over the loss of lives on social media and promised 200,000 Indian rupees ($2,333) in financial support to each next of kin.
India is home to some of the world's top pharmaceutical companies which play a major role in the global supply of generic medicines and vaccines.
But industrial accidents, particularly involving chemical reactors, are common.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
DW
04-08-2025
- DW
How to protect Delhi's informal workers from extreme heat? – DW – 08/04/2025
Millions of people - waste pickers, vendors, rickshaw pullers and others - work outdoors even in extreme heat, risking their health and lives. What can be done? In Delhi, informal workers like street vendors and waste pickers face unprecedented heatwaves that threaten their health and livelihoods. They bear the brunt of soaring temperatures without any real support infrastructure or formal protection. Now, a grassroots alliance between the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Greenpeace India, and worker unions are taking action to change that. The pioneering initiative has created WhatsApp groups and simple visual warning systems in local languages to communicate daily heat alerts. Messages are sent by community leaders and posted on colorful signboards in crowded markets and across neighborhoods. These signs — marked with yellow and red color codes — advise workers upon what precautions to take and when to seek shade or hydration. The IMD also provides early warnings on television and radio, but the new grassroots method is proving far more effective in reaching vulnerable groups. India'sMinistry of Health reported nearly 40,000 cases of suspected heat stroke and over 100 heatwave-related deaths last year, with conditions worsening due to rising humidity and urban crowding. This community-led solution is more than a stopgap—it's empowering workers to protect themselves from such climate risks. Since May 2024, over two dozen heat signboards have been installed, and five unions have received training to interpret alerts. The initiative is now being expanded to other Indian cities. But systemic challenges remain. A lack of designated vending spaces and inconsistent enforcement of safety measures are among the problems. They also include minimal access to clean drinking water and police harassment if the workers set up makeshift sunshades. For lasting change, public authorities must respond to these grassroots efforts to help those most exposed to extreme weather.
DW
23-07-2025
- DW
India: What is behind the rise in student suicides? – DW – 07/23/2025
Mental health professionals have said more support programs are needed on college campuses as an alarming trend of student suicide continues. An estimated 13,000 students commit suicide in India every year. Student suicides have reached an alarming scale in India, with students making up 7.6% of the country's total suicide deaths, according to a recently released report by National Crime Records Bureau. The report, which used the most recent data from 2022, showed that an estimated 13,000 students die every year by suicide in India. Official figures for suicides in 2023 and 2024 have yet to be published. Research and government reports point to a combination of academic and social stress, and lack of institutional support and awareness, as contributing factors. "I see these numbers as not just statistics but as signs of silent suffering buried under societal norms and expectations," Anjali Nagpal, a neuropsychiatrist who has studied the issue closely, told DW. "I have observed that children are not taught how to handle failure, disappointment, or uncertainty. We prepare them for exams, not for life," she added. "Mental health education should be a regular part of school life not limited to isolated sessions. Students need space to talk and be heard. Teachers must be trained to listen, not just lecture," Nagpal said. On Monday, Indian Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar, shared the report's findings before a session of parliament. The government acknowledged that despite a series of educational reforms and new mental health initiatives, "extreme academic pressure" continues to affect vulnerable students. Majumdar outlined that the government is implementing multi-pronged measures to address the issue, including providing psychological support for students, teachers, and families through various programs. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Nelson Vinod Moses, founder of the Suicide Prevention India Foundation, told DW a that persistent "toxic competitiveness," combined with harsh grading systems and inadequate mental health support are important factors contributing to student suicides. "A silent epidemic is pushing many to a breaking point. There seems to be an undercurrent of anxiety and mistrust running through India's education system," Moses said. In his reckoning, college counsellors need to be trained in suicide screening, risk assessment and management and counselling at-risk students. "We do not want young lives tragically cut short and that is why campuses need to introduce emotional intelligence, life skills stress management and suicide prevention. Gatekeeper training for students and faculty is important," he added. A 2019 study on suicides among Indian college students, led by researchers from Australia's University of Melbourne, India's National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, along with several Indian medical colleges, sought to explore the extent of mental health issues. Comprising over 8,500 students from 30 universities across nine Indian states, the survey found that over 12% of students had experienced suicidal thoughts in the past year, and 6.7% had attempted suicide at some point in their life. The study emphasized the urgent need for mental health interventions and supportive measures within educational institutions to address this growing crisis. India's Supreme Court, which has described the situation as a "suicide epidemic," set up a 10-member national task force chaired in March. The task force is currently engaged in wide-ranging investigations, consultations, and institutional reviews, and aims to deliver a comprehensive policy blueprint. Maheshwer Peri, founder and CEO of Careers360, an education technology startup that provides comprehensive career guidance and entrance exam preparations, told DW that many young Indians are under immense pressure to succeed. "It is unfortunate that a student sometimes is judged on a single day for a competitive exam, which causes him or her to take their life. We need to create safety nets for students," Peri said. "Most of these students do not have sufficient support systems and study in isolation. There is an urgent need for expanded and integrated mental health care tailored to students' needs." Achal Bhagat, a psychiatrist in Delhi with over 30 years of experience, said a narrow definition of success, gender disparity, violence, and lack of opportunities for employment all contribute to mental health problems among students. "You either fail or you are a genius. The systems that govern society and its institutions are inflexible and do not engage in discourse with the young. This sense of helplessness and hopelessness then precipitates a tragic loss," Bhagat told DW. "In my opinion, the most important elements of a solution are participation of the young in decision- making regarding their futures, mentoring and building accessible role models for widening the definition of success."
DW
22-07-2025
- DW
India's vice president steps down, citing health reasons – DW – 07/22/2025
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modia has wished Jagdeep Dhankhar "good health" following the vice president's resignation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Jagdeep Dhankhar "good health" in a social media post on Tuesday, following the vice president's decision to step down on "medical advice." On Monday, Vice President Dhankhar resigned from his post, citing health concerns. "Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji has got many opportunities to serve our country in various capacities, including as the vice president of India," Modi wrote on social media site X. "Wishing him good health." Dhankhar has held the position of Indian vice president since August 2022. While the role is normally for five years, the 74-year-old said his health had to come first. "To prioritize health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately," Dhankhar said in a letter to country's President Droupadi Murmu, posted on X. "I extend my deepest gratitude to Your Excellency — the Hon'ble President of India for her unwavering support." "I express my deep gratitude to the Hon'ble Prime Minister and the esteemed Council of Ministers. Prime Minister's cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time in office." The vice president of India primarily serves a ceremonial and parliamentary role, holding the second highest constitutional office, as well as being chair of the upper house of parliament. The vice president also steps into the as the role of president, who is head of state, if there is a temporary vacancy. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
