Five workers were killed and five others injured in an explosion at a chemical manufacturing unit in Gujarat's Bharuch district on Friday night, triggering a leak of toxic gas, officials said.
Blast during hydrogenation process
The explosion occurred at around 10 pm on Friday at SynZeal Pharmachem, a chemical unit in the Saykha GIDC area of Vagra taluka. An official of the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health said the blast happened during a hydrogenation process and released toxic methylene dichloride gas.
The explosion ripped apart the reactor tank and scattered machinery parts across the premises, Bharuch Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manisha Manani said. The unit, which manufactures pharmaceutical intermediates, was set up in Saykha about a year ago.
Victims identified by police
Superintendent of Police Akshyaraj Makwana officially identified the five deceased as Jaydeep Maheshbhai Patel and Bhavik Dilipkumar Vasava, both from Amod; Vrund Talaviya from Talala in Gir Somnath district; and Aniket Harilal Gautam and Arjunkumar Ramsingh Gautam, both from Uttar Pradesh.
The five injured — Pavankumar Ramsingh Gautam, Mausamkumar Ramsevak Yadav, Shivdayal Ramavatar Yadav, Pratik Pravin Prajapati and Priyanshu Bahadurlal, from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh — are undergoing treatment.
Investigation under way
Teams from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health and the local police reached the spot. Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion and whether safety procedures were followed. The exact cause has not been established.
Early wire reports had carried conflicting casualty figures; the police-confirmed toll is five killed and five injured, which is the figure used here.
Sources: Five killed, five injured in explosion at Gujarat chemical unit — New Indian Express (PTI inputs); Gujarat chemical factory blast kills 5, triggers toxic gas leak; reactor ripped apart — Mathrubhumi
Blast during hydrogenation process
The explosion occurred at around 10 pm on Friday at SynZeal Pharmachem, a chemical unit in the Saykha GIDC area of Vagra taluka. An official of the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health said the blast happened during a hydrogenation process and released toxic methylene dichloride gas.
The explosion ripped apart the reactor tank and scattered machinery parts across the premises, Bharuch Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manisha Manani said. The unit, which manufactures pharmaceutical intermediates, was set up in Saykha about a year ago.
Victims identified by police
Superintendent of Police Akshyaraj Makwana officially identified the five deceased as Jaydeep Maheshbhai Patel and Bhavik Dilipkumar Vasava, both from Amod; Vrund Talaviya from Talala in Gir Somnath district; and Aniket Harilal Gautam and Arjunkumar Ramsingh Gautam, both from Uttar Pradesh.
The five injured — Pavankumar Ramsingh Gautam, Mausamkumar Ramsevak Yadav, Shivdayal Ramavatar Yadav, Pratik Pravin Prajapati and Priyanshu Bahadurlal, from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh — are undergoing treatment.
Investigation under way
Teams from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health and the local police reached the spot. Authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion and whether safety procedures were followed. The exact cause has not been established.
Early wire reports had carried conflicting casualty figures; the police-confirmed toll is five killed and five injured, which is the figure used here.
Sources: Five killed, five injured in explosion at Gujarat chemical unit — New Indian Express (PTI inputs); Gujarat chemical factory blast kills 5, triggers toxic gas leak; reactor ripped apart — Mathrubhumi