WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that Israel has agreed to a proposed 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, urging Hamas to accept the terms and warning the group that rejecting the deal will only deepen the devastation.
“I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” Trump said in a statement posted to social media.
The announcement comes just days before Trump is scheduled to welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House on Monday for talks expected to focus on the war in Gaza and broader regional security. The president has grown increasingly involved in ceasefire diplomacy after the United States helped broker an unprecedented peace agreement between Israel and Iran.
While Trump hailed the deal as a path to ending nearly 21 months of conflict, there was immediate uncertainty over whether Hamas would agree.
Hamas has insisted it will release all hostages in exchange for a full Israeli military withdrawal and an end to the war — conditions Israel has categorically rejected. Israeli leaders have maintained that fighting will cease only if Hamas agrees to disarm, surrender, and remove its leadership from Gaza, demands the group continues to oppose.
Despite Hamas’s diminished capabilities and the collapse of much of its centralized command structure, the group has shown it remains capable of inflicting lethal attacks on Israeli forces, prolonging the fighting and complicating negotiations.
Trump’s declaration that this offer is his “best and final” could further harden positions. He has repeatedly issued stark ultimatums to Hamas to accept temporary pauses in fighting that would allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages.
U.S. officials have indicated they see the proposed 60-day truce as a critical window to build momentum for a broader agreement that could end the war altogether.
Whether Hamas will trust Trump’s assurances remains uncertain, particularly after months of failed negotiations and continued Israeli military operations in Gaza’s southern and northern sectors.
The coming week could prove pivotal, as Netanyahu’s Washington visit is expected to generate new pressure on all sides to resolve the conflict.
NEW YORK (BN24) — Jurors weighing federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges against Sean “Diddy” Combs asked Tuesday to review testimony from one of the prosecution’s most pivotal witnesses: his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
On the second day of deliberations, the panel of eight men and four women requested transcripts of Ventura’s accounts detailing years of alleged abuse and intimidation.
Judge Arun Subramanian began the day by addressing a question the jury posed late Monday about an alleged racketeering act: possession with intent to distribute drugs. The panel had asked for clarification about the legal instructions on that charge, part of the broader racketeering conspiracy count.
Combs’ lawyers pressed the judge to issue a more detailed explanation. Prosecutors objected, arguing it could confuse jurors, and Subramanian ultimately sided with the government.
“Can you do what I’m asking or no?” the judge asked pointedly during a tense exchange with the defense.
“Of course I can do what your honor is asking,” one of Combs’ attorneys replied.
Roughly 75 minutes into the day’s deliberations, the jury requested Ventura’s testimony about a 2016 incident in which she alleged Combs beat, kicked and dragged her inside a Los Angeles hotel — an assault captured on security video that surfaced earlier this year. Combs, 55, has since publicly apologized for the attack.
Jurors also asked to review Ventura’s account of a 2013 incident at the Cannes Film Festival, when she said Combs accused her of stealing drugs, kicked her off his yacht, and later threatened to release explicit footage of her having sex.
In addition, the panel requested testimony from Ventura and Daniel Phillip, a stripper who described seeing Ventura in a distressed state in a New York City hotel suite sometime between 2012 and 2014. Phillip said Ventura jumped into his lap after he heard what sounded like Combs slapping and slamming her against walls in another room.
“Her whole entire body was shaking, like she was terrified,” Phillip told the jury. He said Ventura tried to reassure him she would be all right.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution. Prosecutors allege he arranged private flights for sex workers and orchestrated what witnesses called “freak-offs” — drug-fueled sex marathons in hotel rooms.
On Monday, the jury deliberated for several hours without reaching a verdict, sending a series of notes to the court. One note indicated some jurors worried a fellow panelist could not follow the judge’s instructions. After hearing from the parties, Subramanian reminded the jurors of their duty to apply the law impartially and sent them back to continue.
The jurors have been provided a laptop with all exhibits, including text messages, photos, and videos entered into evidence. Five alternate jurors remain on standby should they be needed.
Deliberations follow seven weeks of often graphic and emotional testimony about Combs’ private life. Prosecutors portrayed him as a violent predator who controlled women through intimidation, drugs, and money. Defense lawyers countered that no conspiracy existed and argued Combs’ conduct, however salacious, did not amount to federal crimes.
The trial marks one of the most dramatic reckonings in the music mogul’s decades-long career. A verdict could come as early as this week, depending on how long the jury deliberations continue.
NEW YORK (BN24) — Jurors weighing federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges against Sean “Diddy” Combs asked Tuesday to review testimony from one of the prosecution’s most pivotal witnesses: his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
On the second day of deliberations, the panel of eight men and four women requested transcripts of Ventura’s accounts detailing years of alleged abuse and intimidation.
Judge Arun Subramanian began the day by addressing a question the jury posed late Monday about an alleged racketeering act: possession with intent to distribute drugs. The panel had asked for clarification about the legal instructions on that charge, part of the broader racketeering conspiracy count.
Combs’ lawyers pressed the judge to issue a more detailed explanation. Prosecutors objected, arguing it could confuse jurors, and Subramanian ultimately sided with the government.
“Can you do what I’m asking or no?” the judge asked pointedly during a tense exchange with the defense.
“Of course I can do what your honor is asking,” one of Combs’ attorneys replied.
Roughly 75 minutes into the day’s deliberations, the jury requested Ventura’s testimony about a 2016 incident in which she alleged Combs beat, kicked and dragged her inside a Los Angeles hotel — an assault captured on security video that surfaced earlier this year. Combs, 55, has since publicly apologized for the attack.
Jurors also asked to review Ventura’s account of a 2013 incident at the Cannes Film Festival, when she said Combs accused her of stealing drugs, kicked her off his yacht, and later threatened to release explicit footage of her having sex.
In addition, the panel requested testimony from Ventura and Daniel Phillip, a stripper who described seeing Ventura in a distressed state in a New York City hotel suite sometime between 2012 and 2014. Phillip said Ventura jumped into his lap after he heard what sounded like Combs slapping and slamming her against walls in another room.
“Her whole entire body was shaking, like she was terrified,” Phillip told the jury. He said Ventura tried to reassure him she would be all right.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking, and two counts of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution. Prosecutors allege he arranged private flights for sex workers and orchestrated what witnesses called “freak-offs” — drug-fueled sex marathons in hotel rooms.
On Monday, the jury deliberated for several hours without reaching a verdict, sending a series of notes to the court. One note indicated some jurors worried a fellow panelist could not follow the judge’s instructions. After hearing from the parties, Subramanian reminded the jurors of their duty to apply the law impartially and sent them back to continue.
The jurors have been provided a laptop with all exhibits, including text messages, photos, and videos entered into evidence. Five alternate jurors remain on standby should they be needed.
Deliberations follow seven weeks of often graphic and emotional testimony about Combs’ private life. Prosecutors portrayed him as a violent predator who controlled women through intimidation, drugs, and money. Defense lawyers countered that no conspiracy existed and argued Combs’ conduct, however salacious, did not amount to federal crimes.
The trial marks one of the most dramatic reckonings in the music mogul’s decades-long career. A verdict could come as early as this week, depending on how long the jury deliberations continue.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi stunned reporters when she claimed the FBI was reviewing “tens of thousands of videos” allegedly showing Jeffrey Epstein with children or containing child sexual abuse imagery.
The remark, delivered first to a stranger with a hidden camera and later repeated to journalists at the White House, amplified pressure on President Donald Trump’s administration to produce compelling new evidence from its promised Epstein file release.
The Associated Press interviewed multiple lawyers and law enforcement officials involved in the Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases, none of whom had ever seen — or even heard of — a trove of recordings on the scale Bondi described.
Indictments and court filings never mentioned such videos, and neither Epstein nor Maxwell faced charges for possession of child sexual abuse material, an offense that prosecutors could have pursued more easily than the sex trafficking counts that ultimately brought them down.
One potential clue comes from a little-noticed 2023 court filing revealing that Epstein’s estate located unspecified videos and photos that “might contain” illegal images. But the filing was sealed under a protective order, and lawyers involved have declined to discuss it publicly.
The Justice Department has refused to answer detailed questions about Bondi’s claim, including whether the recordings were newly discovered or known to authorities for years.
“Outside sources who make assertions about materials included in the DOJ’s review cannot speak to what materials are included,” Justice Department spokesperson Chad Gilmartin said in a statement.
Conservative Base Frustration After Fizzled File Release
Epstein’s crimes, celebrity ties, and jailhouse suicide have long fueled conspiracy theories that powerful people helped cover up incriminating evidence.
Bondi, tasked by Trump with overseeing the release of more files, has faced intense backlash from conservatives after an initial document dump failed to produce a promised “client list.”
In a Fox News interview this year, she teased the existence of such a list, claiming it was “sitting on my desk.” But when the White House distributed binders to right-wing influencers, much of the content was already public.
The anticlimactic release infuriated Trump’s supporters, with some demanding Bondi’s resignation and accusing her of deception.
Afterward, Bondi said an FBI “source” told her about thousands of pages of undisclosed evidence and insisted she ordered the bureau to turn over the complete Epstein files.
In April, she was confronted in a restaurant by an undercover activist with a hidden camera. Bondi doubled down, claiming there were “tens of thousands of videos — and it’s all with little kids,” and said the FBI needed to review them all.
But in public remarks, FBI Director Kash Patel did not echo that claim. Asked directly whether there was a trove of videos incriminating powerful Epstein associates, Patel dismissed the notion, saying: “If there was a video of some guy or gal committing felonies on an island and I’m in charge, don’t you think you’d see it?”
No Sign of Such Recordings in Epstein or Maxwell Cases
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial in New York, cutting short the evidence discovery process.
Yet during Maxwell’s 2021 prosecution — when any such recordings would have been highly relevant — no videos were produced.
“We were never provided any of those materials,” said Maxwell defense lawyer Jeffrey Pagliuca. “If they existed, I suspect we would have seen them.”
The record does show investigators found a trove of photos depicting nude or seminude girls. Search warrants for Epstein’s Manhattan mansion also uncovered sexualized images displayed in plain view.
Some accusers described feeling watched in Epstein’s homes, fueling speculation he kept hidden surveillance equipment. A 2020 Justice Department report noted police in 2005 found disconnected monitors and keyboards but said the recording devices were missing.
Despite repeated investigations, prosecutors never charged Epstein with creating or possessing child pornography.
An AP review of hundreds of documents in the Epstein and Maxwell cases found no reference to “tens of thousands” of videos of Epstein with minors.
Attorney Marc Fernich, who represented Epstein, said: “It’s not something I ever heard about.”
Estate Disclosure Adds More Questions
A separate lawsuit in the Virgin Islands and New York shed some light on potential video evidence.
In 2022, lawyers subpoenaed Epstein’s estate for recordings or photos. The estate replied it had found unspecified material that “might contain” illegal images.
A judge ordered the estate to review the materials and alert the FBI if they confirmed child sex abuse content.
The exact contents were never disclosed publicly, leaving it unclear if Bondi’s claim referred to the same material.
Jennifer Freeman, a lawyer for one Epstein accuser, recently cited Bondi’s comments in a new lawsuit and said she still does not know what evidence, if any, underpinned the claims.
“I want to know what she’s addressing,” Freeman said. “What is she talking about? I’d like to know that.”
AWKA, Nigeria (BN24) — Panic swept through the Ogboji community in Nigeria’s Anambra State late Monday after gunmen stormed a monthly community gathering and opened fire, killing at least 10 people and injuring several more, authorities said.
The attackers arrived in two sport utility vehicles and ambushed residents who had convened in Orumba South Local Government Area for their regular meeting, eyewitnesses said.
According to Augustine Odom, chairman of the Ebonyi community in Ogboji and one of the two survivors, the assailants first demanded the group’s minutes book before ordering everyone to lie down and then opening fire without warning.
“They collected our minutes book, ordered everyone to lie down, and asked the chairman to stand,” Odom recounted. “Moments later, they started shooting at us. About 13 of our members were killed on the spot. The treasurer and I survived with gunshot wounds.”
Odom said the gathering was a routine monthly meeting of residents from Ebonyi State, intended to discuss welfare and community support. “We have no issues with anyone,” he said. “We are law-abiding residents who simply gathered to support one another.”
Chigozie Nweke, President of the Association of Non-Indigenes in Anambra State, said most of the victims were Ebonyi natives from the Izzi, Ikwo, Mgbo and other villages. Nweke described the scene as “tragic and horrifying,” adding that the attack unfolded between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
In an appeal to authorities, Nweke called on Anambra State Police Commissioner Ikioye Orutugu to deploy security personnel to track down the attackers.
Police spokesman SP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the assault, saying officers rushed the injured to the hospital, where 10 people were pronounced dead. Their bodies were later deposited in a local morgue.
“The Anambra State Police Command has condemned the indiscriminate shooting incident that resulted in fatal injuries and fatalities to ten persons,” Ikenga said in a statement Tuesday. “The armed criminals came in two SUVs and attacked the gathering unprovoked, shooting sporadically.”
Police have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation to identify and apprehend the assailants.
Witnesses said the attackers appeared to have carefully planned the assault. Odom noted the gunmen seemed familiar with the group’s routine, targeting them during their customary last-Monday-of-the-month meeting.
The survivors, still receiving treatment for gunshot wounds, expressed disbelief and sorrow, insisting they had never had any disputes that could have provoked the violence.
Authorities have pledged to track down those responsible and bring them to justice.
KYIV, Ukraine (BN24) — A Ukrainian drone strike on a defense facility in central Russia killed at least three people and wounded 35 others, Russian officials said Tuesday, underscoring Kyiv’s resolve to target military production deep inside Russian territory.
Alexander Brechalov, the governor of Russia’s Udmurt Republic, said the attack struck an industrial plant in the city of Izhevsk, about 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Ten of the wounded were reported in serious condition.
While Ukraine’s government did not issue an official statement, a Ukrainian security official confirmed to Reuters that the country’s forces had targeted the Kupol plant, which manufactures air defense systems and drones for the Russian army. The strike triggered a fire at the site.
“Each such special operation reduces the enemy’s offensive potential, disrupts military production chains and demonstrates that even deep in Russia’s rear, there are no safe zones for its military infrastructure,” an unnamed official from Ukraine’s Security Service told AFP in written remarks.
If fully verified, the attack would rank among the most far-reaching Ukrainian strikes inside Russia since President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion in February 2022. The distance, however, is shorter than a strike last year that Ukraine said destroyed an early-warning radar in the city of Orsk, some 1,800 kilometers (1,120 miles) from Ukrainian-held territory.
The drone assault came only a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to accelerate Ukraine’s production of unmanned systems to counter the rising tide of Russian drone attacks.
“The priority is drones, interceptor drones and long-range strike drones,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram late Monday, emphasizing that Kyiv plans to scale up its manufacturing to respond to Russian bombardment.
According to an AFP analysis, Moscow launched more than 5,400 long-range drones into Ukrainian territory last month alone, the highest monthly total so far.
The Ukrainian military’s top commander previously pledged to expand the “scale and depth” of strikes targeting Russia’s military infrastructure, signaling that attacks like the Izhevsk operation could become more frequent.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin rejected accusations that it was deliberately delaying ceasefire talks after Keith Kellogg, a special envoy for U.S. President Donald Trump, charged Russia with stalling negotiations while continuing to bomb civilian targets. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claim and insisted Moscow was “not interested in drawing out anything.”
A third round of negotiations between the two sides has yet to be scheduled.
Elsewhere, a Russian-installed official in the eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk declared that Moscow’s forces had established full control over the territory. Kyiv has not publicly commented on that assertion.
BATON ROUGE, La. (BN24) — Jimmy Swaggart, the Louisiana preacher who rose from small-town Pentecostal services to become one of America’s most prominent televangelists before a sex scandal shattered his reputation, has died at age 90, his family announced Tuesday.
Swaggart passed away after spending two weeks hospitalized at Baton Rouge General Medical Center following a cardiac arrest on June 15, according to a statement posted on his official Facebook page.
“Today, our hearts are heavy as we share that Brother Swaggart has finished his earthly race and entered into the presence of his Savior, Jesus Christ,” the statement read. “He met his beloved Savior and entered the portals of glory. At the same time, we rejoice knowing that we will see him again one day.”
Swaggart’s family expressed gratitude to hospital staff for “their incredible support and care” in his final days.
Over a career that transformed American religious broadcasting, Swaggart built a ministry that reached millions of viewers worldwide. He first drew national attention in 1975 when his ministry began recording and replaying his revival meetings, propelling him to television screens across the country. By the mid-1980s, Swaggart’s Sunday program aired on hundreds of stations, making him one of the most recognizable voices in evangelical Christianity.
At his peak, Swaggart’s sermons and gospel music performances generated tens of millions in donations, and his sprawling Baton Rouge campus became a hub for Pentecostal broadcasting and Bible education.
But his public ministry was overshadowed by scandal in 1988, when allegations surfaced that Swaggart had solicited a local prostitute. In a now-iconic moment of American televangelism, Swaggart took to the pulpit to deliver a tearful confession, telling his congregation and television audience, “I have sinned against you.” He declined to specify the nature of his transgression but implored viewers to forgive him.
Despite his attempt to salvage his ministry, Swaggart’s influence in the evangelical community never fully recovered, and the scandal marked the end of an era when televangelists wielded sweeping cultural power in American life.
Swaggart is survived by his wife, Frances, and his son, Donnie, who followed him into ministry.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — The U.S. Senate on Tuesday narrowly passed President Donald Trump’s signature tax and spending legislation, propelling a massive economic package that would permanently enshrine many of his core policy goals while significantly expanding the national debt.
The bill, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” now heads to the House of Representatives for final passage. Trump has urged lawmakers to place the legislation on his desk before the July 4 holiday, touting it as a transformative win for American families, businesses, and national security.
The 940-page bill passed the Republican-controlled Senate by a razor-thin 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the decisive tie-breaking vote. Only three Republican senators broke ranks to oppose the measure, which includes sweeping tax relief provisions, steep spending increases on border enforcement, and major changes to Medicaid and food assistance programs.
The bill’s passage in the Senate follows months of intraparty wrangling over cost projections, healthcare cuts, and tax policy provisions. While House Republicans are expected to approve the legislation under mounting pressure from the White House, sharp divisions remain within GOP ranks — particularly over the bill’s projected $3.3 trillion impact on the national debt.
“This is not fiscal responsibility. It’s not what we agreed to,” the House Freedom Caucus said in a statement Monday, warning that the Senate’s version of the bill adds $651 billion to the deficit even before interest costs are considered. The group, composed of hardline conservatives, has demanded deeper cuts to government spending.
Moderate House Republicans, meanwhile, have voiced opposition to the steeper Medicaid reductions included in the Senate draft. Representative David Valadao of California warned over the weekend that eliminating key funding streams for hospitals in his district would be unacceptable.
Despite these warnings, Trump’s grip on the party remains strong. Few lawmakers have been willing to challenge the president publicly since his return to office in January. Those who have — including Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, one of the three GOP senators to vote no — have faced political isolation and exclusion from White House events.
The bill includes provisions to make permanent Trump’s 2017 tax cuts for individuals and businesses, which are set to expire at the end of this year. It also introduces new deductions for tipped wages, overtime income, and senior citizens — measures Trump promised during his 2024 re-election campaign. Additionally, it repeals key elements of former President Joe Biden’s climate legislation and injects tens of billions of dollars into Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement plans.
At the heart of the controversy is the bill’s long-term fiscal impact. The Congressional Budget Office estimates it will add $3.3 trillion to the federal debt, which currently stands at $36.2 trillion. Economists warn that such borrowing could slow economic growth, raise interest rates, and crowd out future investments in infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Republican lawmakers have largely dismissed the CBO analysis, criticizing its methodology and arguing that the bill will generate long-term savings by reforming benefit programs and stimulating growth.
The legislation also raises the government’s borrowing cap by $5 trillion, postponing the threat of a debt ceiling crisis until after the 2026 midterms. This provision alone has prompted concern among global bondholders, some of whom have begun to diversify away from U.S. Treasuries amid widening deficits.
Still, supporters of the bill maintain that it reflects a necessary recalibration of national priorities. “This is a bill that helps working families, helps small businesses, and secures our border,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune. “It’s not perfect, but it’s the bold, decisive action voters demanded when they returned President Trump to office.”
The House is expected to vote on the final version of the bill within days. Trump, who has made the legislation a centerpiece of his second-term agenda, is expected to sign it into law swiftly if it passes.
ISTANBUL, Turkey (BN24) — Police in Turkey detained three additional employees of a prominent satirical magazine on Tuesday as authorities escalated their response to a cartoon accused of depicting the Prophet Muhammad, a controversy that has ignited protests and fierce debate over free expression.
The detentions bring the total number of LeMan magazine staff taken into custody to four. The cartoon, which appeared in the weekly publication, quickly drew condemnation from Turkish officials and religious groups, who claimed the artwork showed the Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Moses hovering above a war scene with wings and halos as bombs fell below.
LeMan strongly rejected those allegations. In a statement late Monday, the magazine insisted the illustration portrayed a Muslim man named Muhammad — not the Prophet — and aimed to highlight the suffering of Muslim civilians caught in conflict.
But anger spread rapidly. On Monday night, dozens of demonstrators affiliated with an Islamic group gathered outside LeMan’s Istanbul headquarters, throwing rocks at the building and clashing with police. Video of the protest showed windows shattered and officers forming a barricade to keep crowds back.
Prosecutors wasted little time launching a criminal inquiry into the publication on charges of “publicly insulting religious values.” The cartoon’s creator, Dogan Pehlevan, was the first to be detained Monday after police raided his home. Overnight, Editor-in-Chief Zafer Aknar, graphic designer Cebrail Okcu and business manager Ali Yavuz were also taken into custody, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Authorities issued arrest warrants for two other editors believed to have left Turkey.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya shared video footage of Pehlevan and Yavuz being led from their homes in handcuffs, describing the arrests as a necessary step to uphold respect for religion. “These shameless people will be held accountable before the law,” Yerlikaya wrote in a post on X.
Government-aligned media outlets, including the pro-government Yeni Safak newspaper, reported that the image was understood by many as a depiction of revered prophets and accused the magazine of deliberate provocation. The independent Birgun newspaper noted that interpretations of the cartoon varied but confirmed the winged figures were widely believed to reference Moses and Muhammad.
LeMan issued an apology late Monday to anyone offended by the drawing but also condemned what it called a targeted smear campaign. Editors said they expected authorities to protect freedom of expression as guaranteed under Turkish law.
The cartoon controversy has intensified a national debate over the boundaries of satire and religious sensitivity in a country where secular traditions coexist with deep Islamic faith. As investigations continue, the detained employees face possible prosecution under laws prohibiting insults against religious values — charges that can carry prison sentences in Turkey.
HYDERABAD, India (BN24) — A catastrophic explosion and fire tore through a pharmaceutical factory in southern India, killing at least 36 people and leaving dozens more injured, authorities said Tuesday, as emergency crews worked through the mangled wreckage to search for any remaining victims.
The blast erupted Monday inside the spray dryer unit of Sigachi Industries Limited in the Bonthapally industrial area, about 31 miles from Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana state. Fire services director G.V. Narayana Rao said the force of the explosion brought down the entire factory structure, trapping many workers.
“The whole structure of the factory has collapsed,” Rao told The Associated Press. “Fire has been doused, and we hope to finish removing the debris in the next few hours.”
Firefighters recovered the charred remains of 34 workers from the site. Two more employees who were pulled from the rubble died later in the hospital from severe burns. Nearly three dozen others were admitted to area hospitals with injuries ranging from fractures to critical burns.
Authorities said 108 people were inside the factory at the time of the explosion. The state’s health minister, Damodar Raja Narasimha, confirmed that many of the bodies were badly burned and mutilated, making identification difficult. A special medical team has been deployed to carry out DNA testing.
Witnesses reported hearing a deafening boom that could be felt miles away.
The cause of the disaster has not been disclosed. Sigachi Industries said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange that it was conducting a thorough investigation and that the factory, which produces microcrystalline cellulose used in making medicines, would remain shut for at least 90 days.
In the disclosure, the company called the incident “unfortunate” and said the core manufacturing infrastructure was heavily damaged. The affected plant accounts for more than a fourth of Sigachi’s annual production capacity.
Shares of Sigachi Industries plunged as much as 10% Monday and dropped another 8% in intra-day trading Tuesday amid investor concern over the disaster’s impact on operations.
Industrial accidents are a recurring hazard in India’s booming pharmaceutical sector, which supplies a major share of the world’s generic drugs and vaccines. Safety advocates have long warned that insufficient oversight and lax enforcement of regulations contribute to deadly incidents.
The state government has set up a special committee to investigate what triggered the blast and whether safety lapses played a role.
Sigachi Industries operates five manufacturing facilities across India and subsidiaries in the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
As emergency teams continued to sift through the collapsed building, officials said the focus remained on recovering any additional victims and ensuring the safety of other workers in the area.
