State sends 2 officers to oversee rescue efforts in T'gana factory

Bhubaneswar: State govt on Tuesday sent two officers to Telangana to coordinate rescue operations for Odia workers employed at Sigachi Industries facility in Medak district where an explosion on Monday has claimed 36 lives.

Pritish Pandu, officer on special duty at the directorate of Odisha Paribar, and Chandra Sekhar Hota, an officer from Odisha police service, have been tasked with overseeing the rescue efforts.

The explosion, which took place at 8:30am, was triggered by a sudden build-up of pressure inside the spray dryer unit of the factory, leading to a massive fire and subsequent structural collapse. At the time of the incident, over 100 workers, including individuals from Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, were present in the unit.

While the exact number of Odisha natives affected by the explosion remains unclear, the state govt is concerned that some workers may be among the victims. The Odia language, literature and culture department issued an order detailing the deployment of the officers to ensure effective coordination and support for the affected workers.