ASIA/INDIA - Chemical factory explosion: Catholic Church calls for transparency and protection of workers' dignity

Hyderabad (Agenzia Fides) - "The explosion at a chemical factory in the state of Telangana once again raises the serious problem of exploitation and disregard for the dignity of workers. The victims are mostly poor people, members of tribal communities, migrant workers, and daily laborers, who are the most vulnerable. It will be necessary to examine whether there was negligence and whether the authorities and the company that owns the factory complied with all labor protection measures," said Fr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General and Spokesperson of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CCBI), in an interview with Fides following the explosion on June 30 in the Sangareddy district, north of Hyderabad, the capital of the Indian state of Telangana, which killed at least 40 workers and injured more than 35, many of them still in critical condition.
The explosion caused the collapse of a three-story building managed by the pharmaceutical company Sigachi Industries Private Limited. In response to public outrage, the Telangana state government has promised 10 million rupees in compensation to the families of the deceased workers and 1 million rupees in compensation to the injured. Furthermore, a commission of inquiry, composed of experts and scientists, will be established today, July 3, to investigate the explosion. The commission will determine the causes and establish the sequence of events that led to the disaster.
"The Indian Church has united in all communities to express its solidarity and to pray for the victims during daily Masses, as requested by the bishops," Father Alathara told Fides. In an official statement, the Inter-Ritual Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) also expressed its "deep sadness and sorrow over the tragic explosion at a chemical factory in Telangana." "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 Indian bishops said in a statement. Many of the victims, the bishops said, originally came from other states and were internal migrants who had come to Telangana to care for their families. The CBCI statement called for "a thorough and transparent investigation to shed light on the causes of the explosion and any deficiencies identified," and pointed out 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." "It is necessary to review the labor laws that allow companies to exploit workers," Father Alathara concluded. "And we must ensure that all the rules established by law were observed. Those who suffer are always the poorest, the defenseless, those who cannot even go to court, the migrants, the tribal people, the weakest. The Church is at their side to help them with all means and in every way." (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 3/7/2025)

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