Bharuch: Five workers were killed and six others injured after a reactor exploded at a pharmaceutical plant in Gujarat’s Bharuch district late Friday night. The blast occurred during a hydrogenation process at SynZeal Pharmachem in the Saykha GIDC industrial estate, with a reported chemical gas leak adding to the impact.
The explosion involved a 15-kiloliter reactor at the company’s unit in Vagra taluka. The force of the blast threw debris beyond the factory premises, while machinery parts and metal sheets were scattered across the plant.
A reported leak of methylene dichloride (MDC) gas left the area covered in dust and haze. Workers and others at the site complained of severe eye irritation following the incident.
The injured were taken to hospitals in Bharuch and Vadodara, while the bodies of the deceased were shifted to Bharuch Civil Hospital.
Four Victims Identified
The explosion triggered panic across the industrial estate. Police and district officials reached the site and began rescue operations.
Bharuch Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manisha Manani said the blast occurred during the hydrogenation process. Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion and checking whether the plant followed the required industrial safety rules.
Four of the five deceased workers were reportedly identified as Jaideep Patel, 27, a shift in-charge from Vagra; Aniketkumar Harikishor, 24; Arjun Ramsingh Gautam, 20; and Vrund Talavia. Officials were still working to confirm the identity of the fifth victim.
Safety Investigation Underway
Teams from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and the Industrial Safety and Health Department have started examining the incident, including the reported chemical leak.
The investigation will look into what caused the reactor to explode, how much chemical was released and whether any safety lapses contributed to the deaths and injuries.
The company had reportedly started operations at the Saykha GIDC estate less than a year ago and had 53 employees. The exact cause of the blast has not yet been established.