Church Condemns Telangana Chemical Plant Tragedy, Mourns Death of Over 40 Workers

Vatican City, July 4, 2025 : The Indian Catholic Church has expressed deep sorrow and condemnation following a deadly explosion at a chemical factory in Telangana’s Sangareddy district, which left at least 40 workers dead and over 35 others injured, many critically.

The blast, which occurred on 30 June at a facility operated by Sigachi Industries Private Limited, led to the collapse of a three-storey building and has sparked public outrage over worker safety and exploitation.

Fr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General and Spokesperson of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CCBI), described the tragedy as a stark example of “the serious problem of exploitation and disregard for the dignity of workers.”

Speaking to Fides News Agency, Fr. Alathara highlighted that the victims were primarily from marginalised backgrounds—poor, tribal, migrant labourers, and daily wage earners—making them particularly vulnerable to such disasters.

He stressed the importance of investigating whether there had been any negligence or violation of labour protection standards, stating, “It is essential to determine whether the factory owners and authorities complied with all safety regulations.”

In response to the disaster, the Telangana state government announced compensation of 10 million rupees for the families of the deceased and 1 million rupees for the injured. A commission of inquiry, comprising scientific and technical experts, was established on 3 July to determine the cause of the explosion and the sequence of events leading up to it.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India also issued a statement conveying “deep sadness and sorrow over the tragic explosion,” offering condolences and prayers for the victims and their families. The statement acknowledged that many of those killed were internal migrants who had travelled to Telangana seeking work.

“Our condolences go out to the families who lost their loved ones in this sudden and devastating tragedy. We also pray for the speedy and full recovery of all those injured, and that the Lord grants strength and courage to their families and caregivers,” the Bishops said.

They further called for “a thorough and transparent investigation to shed light on the causes of the explosion and any deficiencies identified,” emphasising that “the dignity of every human life and the right to a safe and secure working environment must be upheld as a moral and constitutional responsibility.”

Fr. Alathara urged a review of existing labour laws that enable exploitation, noting, “Those who suffer are always the poorest, the defenceless, those who cannot even go to court—the migrants, the tribal people, the weakest. The Church stands with them in every possible way.”

Churches across India have been asked to remember the victims in daily Masses.

Courtesy: Vatican News