Hyderabad: Deafening explosion, then glass shards turn bullets

HYDERABAD: It was as if a huge bomb exploded with a deafening sound. As decapitated limbs and body parts lay strewn all around under the impact of the blast, it took a while for the workers at South Glass factory in Shadnagar to regain their senses.
As workers recount Friday’s horror, it has emerged now that eight to nine workers were standing in the direct way of the explosion when the compressor went off.

“I was right there when the explosion occurred. Luckily, I was standing a little away. The explosion was so loud that I thought my ear drums blew up. I just shut my eyes and crawled. It was only when I opened my eyes that I saw the massive destruction,” said a worker Ashish Goud, 25, who lost his brother Nikith Kumar in the horrific incident.
Workers recall explosion
The impact of the explosion was such that it left a gaping hole through the roof of the building, Body parts of some of the workers were found atop the roof. A major beam supporting the building also caved in due to the high pressure explosion.
Lal Chand Goud, who is a despatch in-charge in a nearby building, said: “The explosion sent shockwaves through the area. We felt as if an earthquake is happening. We saw blood and mangled flesh everywhere around us.”
Lal Chand also said, “Those who were injured were immediately taken to hospitals. There were a few women who were seriously injured.” The injured workers were later admitted to a private hospital in Shadnagar.
In videos shot by the workers, some corpses were found covered in debris.
While factories department officials blamed poor maintenance of the compressor that caused the explosion, police officials claimed that the explosion occurred due to the malfunctioning of a valve which was designed to release excess pressure from the machine. “When the pressure could not be relieved, the entire machine which is several feet in diameter exploded and sent shards of glass everywhere,” said an officer investigating the case.
‘Ignored alerts sparked factory blast’
The workers and employees at the glass factory where an explosion claimed five lives on Friday have alleged that a machine defect, flagged two days before the incident went unaddressed, leading to the fatal accident.
According to Sunil Kumar, a 30-year-old worker from Basti district in Uttar Pradesh, who lost his brother Niket Kumar and colleague Ashish Goud in the blast, concerns about the machine were raised with the operator and the maintenance team. “We reported this issue two days ago, and maintenance crew came to inspect, but nothing was done… No one listens to us when we raise concerns,” Kumar lamented.
Echoing Kumar’s sentiments, other workers criticised management for ignoring their safety worries. “We’ve worked here for years, but now our brothers are gone,” said a worker at Osmania General Hospital mortuary, where the deceased were being prepared for transport back to their hometowns by flight.
Police have registered a case of death by negligence under section 304 A of the IPC against the company. “The investigation will determine if the company’s negligence in addressing the machine defect contributed to the tragedy,” a senior officer said.
Workers’ kin seek ex gratia as they lose sole earners
Prakash, Chitaranjan, Nikith Kumar, Ram Sethu, and Rashikanth arrived in Hyderabad 5-6 years ago full of dreams and aspirations, but tragedy struck abruptly at a glass factory in Shadnagar, cutting short their lives. The aftermath has left deep scars, impacting their families.
One of the deceased person’s earnings covered his parents’ medical expenses in Lucknow, while another supported his two brothers’ education as the family’s main provider. Now, the families seek compensation and call for decisive action against the factory owners.
Ram Prakash, mourning the loss of his cousin Chitaranjan, recalled their journey from Bihar to Hyderabad, driven by ambition and family responsibilities. “Chiranjan’s father is a farmer, and his mother supports him in agriculture. Chitaranjan was the sole breadwinner in his family. He used to send home ₹8,000 of his ₹15,000 earnings to support family. He also funded the education of his two brothers studying in a hostel,” Ram Prakash said.

Montu Pradhan, brother of Rashikanth Deori from Odisha, echoed the financial strain caused by the accident. “We are four brothers sending ₹10,000 each home. With Rashikanth gone, our family income is halved, putting immense pressure on us.”
Lal Chand Goud shared the similar plight of Nikith Kumar’s family. “He sent a significant portion of his earnings back to Lucknow, where his parents are undergoing medical treatment,” he added.
The grieving families now demand compensation and support from both the govt as well as the company.Prakash, Chitaranjan, Nikith Kumar, Ram Sethu, and Rashikanth arrived in Hyderabad 5-6 years ago full of dreams and aspirations, but tragedy struck abruptly at a glass factory in Shadnagar, cutting short their lives. The aftermath has left deep scars, impacting their families.
One of the deceased person’s earnings covered his parents’ medical expenses in Lucknow, while another supported his two brothers’ education as the family’s main provider. Now, the families seek compensation and call for decisive action against the factory owners.
Ram Prakash, mourning the loss of his cousin Chitaranjan, recalled their journey from Bihar to Hyderabad, driven by ambition and family responsibilities. “Chiranjan’s father is a farmer, and his mother supports him in agriculture. Chitaranjan was the sole breadwinner in his family. He used to send home ₹8,000 of his ₹15,000 earnings to support family. He also funded the education of his two brothers studying in a hostel,” Ram Prakash said.
Montu Pradhan, brother of Rashikanth Deori from Odisha, echoed the financial strain caused by the accident. “We are four brothers sending ₹10,000 each home. With Rashikanth gone, our family income is halved, putting immense pressure on us.”
Lal Chand Goud shared the similar plight of Nikith Kumar’s family. “He sent a significant portion of his earnings back to Lucknow, where his parents are undergoing medical treatment,” he added.
The grieving families now demand compensation and support from both the govt as well as the company.