New Delhi. At least 36 people were killed and nearly three dozen injured in a massive explosion and fire at a pharmaceutical factory in the southern Indian state of Telangana on Monday, officials said on Tuesday.

Firefighters recovered the charred bodies of 34 workers from the site of the accident in an industrial area about 50 km (31 miles) from the state capital Hyderabad, state fire service director G V Narayana Rao said.

Two other workers died of burn injuries and were declared brought dead at the hospital, he said. According to him, the debris of the destroyed pharmaceutical unit of Sigachi Industries is being removed to find out if more workers are trapped.

About three dozen injured workers have been admitted to the hospital. “The entire structure of the factory has collapsed. The fire has been doused and we hope to clear the debris in the next few hours,” Rao said.

According to Rao, an explosion and subsequent fire was reported in the spray dryer unit of the factory on Monday, which is used to process raw materials into fine powder to make medicines.

State Health Minister Damodar Raja Narsingh said there were 108 workers inside the factory when the blast took place. “A special medical team has been deployed to conduct DNA tests after the bodies were badly burnt and mutilated,” Narsingh said, adding that the state government has formed a panel to investigate the cause of the incident.

Witnesses said they heard an explosion a few kilometres from the scene. India is home to some of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies. Pharmaceutical companies play an important role in the global supply of generic drugs and vaccines. The country’s strong production and cost-effective production have made it a hub for pharma giants.

Industrial accidents, especially related to chemical reactors, are not uncommon in such factories. It underscores the need for authorities to enforce strict safety protocols and regulatory oversight in areas important to public health.

According to the company’s website, Sigachi Industries Limited is an Indian company dealing with active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates and vitamin-mineral mixtures. It has five manufacturing facilities across India and subsidiaries in the US and the UAE.