At least 39 dead as chemical reactor explodes at drug factory reducing building to rubble in India
Dozens are still missing after the horror blast sparked an inferno at the building and left workers trapped inside.
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The chemical factory, used by Sigachi Industries, sat in the Pashamylaram industrial estate in Telangana's Sangareddy district.
Police in Telangana said more than 140 people were working in the plant at the time of the blast with more than 60 directly impacted.
Seventeen workers are still unaccounted for as officials fear they may be trapped under the charred debris.
A massive rescue team was deployed to extinguish the flames and try to move the rubble with excavators seen at the factory this morning.
GV Narayana Rao, director of the fire response team, confirmed the factory had completely collapsed due to the explosion.
He said: "We are still clearing the debris and once we are all done with the clearing, only then we will be able to assess if any other body is still remaining under the debris or if it is all clear."
Terrified plant worker Chandan Gound, 32, added: "I came out [of the plant] to use the restroom and heard a loud blast.
"It sounded like a bomb blast. I came out and saw fire. A part of the fire also spread towards me. I jumped the wall and escaped.
"Many of them [working inside] managed to escape, but a large number were trapped and could not come out."
Investigations are still ongoing into what caused the explosion.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has now told officials across the state to conduct thorough inspections into all chemical companies.
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