Six Industrial Tragedies In Five Years: How India Fails Its Factory Workers

The recent Sigachi Chemical Fire on June 30, in which 37 factory workers died, has been called one of the most devastating industrial accidents in India in the last few years. The explosion was compared to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984, in which over 3,000 people died. The Bhopal Gas Tragedy was supposed to change how the country viewed industrial safety forever, but the number of factory incidents has raised questions about India’s safety regulations, corporate accountability and crisis management. 

In the past five years— from 2020 to 2025— India has had five such incidents, with the Telangana chemical factory explosion being the sixth.

 The Vizag Gas Leak [2020] 

The Visakhapatnam gas leak, colloquially known as the Vizag gas leak, happened on May 7 2020, at the LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The plant was restarted after having been shut during the first COVID-19 lockdown. A styrene gas leak from a storage tank led to at least 12 people dying inside the plant. The leak also affected 1,000s of others on the outside, with many seeking hospitalisation due to breathing difficulties and vision problems.

 The gas spread over nearby villages, with many people found unconscious in their homes. Around 20,000 people had to be evacuated. The National Green Tribunal later fined the company ₹50 crores for environmental violations. It reignited conversations about ageing infrastructure in legacy chemical plants. 

Serum Institute Fire [2021] 

On January 21, 2021, five workers died in a fire at the Serum Institute of India in Pune. The blaze began inside a half-constructed building within the Institute, which is known for producing COVID vaccine Covishield. It has been alleged that the welding sparks caused the fire.

While the incident did not affect vaccine production, the incident raised concerns over fire protocols even in top-tier pharma campuses. Investigations revealed there were no fire alarms or sprinklers in that section. The company paid compensation, and authorities ordered safety audits across the site. 

Mundka Building Fire [2022]

In Mundka, West Delhi, a fire in a four-story commercial building resulted in the death of 27 people and injured many others. On May 13, 2022, there were 200 workers inside the building when an electrical short circuit started the fire.

Combustible materials fuelled the fire, and investigation found that the building’s narrow passage and blocked exits had left 200 workers trapped inside the building. Investigators found that the factory was operating without fire department approval, which points to a larger problem with unregulated, unsafe workplaces.

Several victims had been working in cramped rooms without ventilation. The building had only one fire escape, which was blocked. The fire department arrived late due to misleading address listings. The incident exposed serious loopholes in industrial safety licensing in Delhi’s outer zones. 

Perfume Manufacturing Unit Fire [2023]

In Shimla’s Baddi industrial area, five people died and 31 were injured in a fire at a pharmaceutical factory. A gas leak had spread through flammable chemicals, triggering the fire. Investigations revealed that the manufacturing unit was using outdated equipment. Along with a lack of maintenance, the old equipment was one of the key factors for the fire. Such an incident lays bare the risks that workers face when safety standards lag even as industrial expansion moves forward.

Officials said the fire alarms didn’t work, and that there were no proper evacuation routes. Baddi, a major pharma hub, has had repeated fire safety complaints. After this incident, the Himachal Pradesh government ordered surprise inspections of over 60 similar units in the region. 

Dombivli Factory Blast [2024]

An explosion at a chemical factory in Dombivli, Maharashtra, killed nine workers and injured over 60. The blast, which investigators said was likely caused by a boiler, damaged the facility and nearby structures. According to the FIR, the company had not undertaken suitable precautions during manufacturing. The company was also aware that any lapses might lead to an explosion, the FIR said.

The shockwave from the blast damaged nearby homes and shattered glass two kilometres away from the explosion site. The resulting fire raged on for hours before being fire marshals could get it under control. Residents had long complained about safety violations in the area, an investigation revealed. The MIDC temporarily sealed six other factories for safety violations after this explosion. 

Sigachi Chemical Fire [2025] 

A suspected reactor explosion at the Sigachi Chemical Industry in Pashamylaram, Telangana, led to a fire that has till now killed 44 workers and injured 35–40. 

The blast occurred during chemical processing, with some initial reports stating that there were inadequate safety measures. The death toll increased as rescue efforts continued. This incident, among the deadliest in recent years, has sparked renewed calls for stricter safety regulations of industrial plants and factories. 

Workers said they heard a loud hissing noise just before the explosion. Rescue efforts were hampered by the lack of a proper layout map and blocked exits. The Telangana government has ordered a state-wide review of chemical industries and asked for criminal proceedings against the management.