Toll in the explosion in a chemical reactor at a pharmaceutical company's plant in Sangareddy district of Telangana rose to six, police said. Four people were killed and 16 others were injured in the blast that occurred at the factory of SB Organics Ltd, located at Chandapur village of Hathnoora mandal of the district.
The body of one worker was found under the wreckage in the factory's premises and an injured person succumbed while undergoing treatment. Among the deceased are the firm's director and workers of the unit, they said.
The blast, triggered a fire, which spread through the pharma unit's premises, was subsequently brought under control, Police and Fire department officials had said. Sixteen others who suffered injuries in the incident have been shifted to various hospitals for treatment.
The deceased belong to Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. A case was registered against the company. The cause of the explosion was under investigation, officials said.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who held a meeting with officials, expressed anguish over the incident. He directed the district officials to provide the best medical care to those injured in the incident and expressed condolences to the families of those who died, an official release said.