The death toll from the explosion and fire at Sigachi Industries' chemical factory in southern India has risen to at least 39, officials said on Tuesday, forcing the supplier of pharma products to shut operations for 90 days.

The death toll from Monday’s massive explosion and fire at a pharmaceutical factory in India’s southern state of Telangana has risen to at least 36 while about three dozen are injured, authorities said Tuesday.

The blast took place during work hours on Monday at a unit of Sigachi Industries, leaving several injured and in critical condition. "As many as 31 bodies have been extricated from the debris while three died in hospital while undergoing treatment,