BHARUCH, GUJARAT — A massive explosion at a chemical manufacturing unit in Gujarat’s Bharuch district killed five workers and injured five others. The incident took place at SynZealPharmachem, a facility located in the Saykha industrial corridor of Vagra taluka.
According to local emergency services and police officials, the blast occurred late Friday night during a chemical reaction involving a hydrogenation process. The force of the explosion ripped apart a high-pressure reactor vessel, scattering heavy metal fragments across the facility premises and damaging neighboring structures. The blast also triggered a localized chemical leak involving methylene dichloride (MDC) gas, forcing an immediate evacuation of the plant and nearby units.
Emergency crews, fire brigades, and industrial safety officers rushed to the scene shortly after the explosion occurred.
Five workers were pronounced dead at the scene due to severe blast injuries and structural collapse. The deceased were identified as local workers Jaydeep Maheshbhai Patel, Bhavik DilipkumarVasava, and VrundTalaviya, as well as migrant workers Aniket Harilal Gautam and ArjunkumarRamsingh Gautam from Uttar Pradesh.
Five additional workers suffered moderate to severe injuries and gas inhalation. They were evacuated to nearby medical centers in Bharuch and are currently undergoing intensive treatment.
Following the incident, the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) alongside the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) ordered an immediate halt to all manufacturing operations at the SynZealPharmachem unit.
A joint investigative team comprising forensic experts, factory inspectors, and local authorities has been deployed to determine the root cause of the pressure build-up and reactor failure. Investigators are focusing on whether standard operating procedures and temperature control protocols were maintained during the hydrogenation process, as well as whether safety valves and secondary containment systems performed as designed.
Local authorities indicated that formal compliance reviews and safety audits will be conducted across the industrial zone to prevent similar industrial disasters. Further updates regarding liability and official findings will follow upon the completion of the technical investigation.
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