import pandas as pd import io temp=u"""index; header1; header2; header3 1; str_data; 12; 1.4 3; str_data; 22; 42.33 4; str_data; 2; 3.44 2; str_data; 43; 43.34 7; str_data; 25; 23.32""" #after testing replace io.StringIO(temp) to filename df = pd.read_csv(io.StringIO(temp), sep = ';', index_col = 0, skip_blank_lines = True) print (df) header1 header2 header3 index 1 str_data 12 1.40 3 str_data 22 42.33 4 str_data 2 3.44 2 str_data 43 43.34 7 str_data 25 23.32