A night shift at a pharmaceutical plant in Gujarat ended in an explosion that killed five workers and injured six more. The blast, which police and officials say tore through a reactor at a unit in the Saykha industrial estate in Bharuch district, was followed by a chemical leak that left the area wrapped in dust and haze.

What happened

The explosion took place late on Friday night, October 16, during a hydrogenation process at a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit reported as SynZeal Pharmachem, in the Saykha GIDC estate in Vagra taluka. The reactor involved had a capacity of 15 kilolitres.

The force of the blast was such that the sound was heard up to 15 km away, reports said, setting off panic across the industrial estate and nearby areas. Debris from the reactor flew beyond the company’s premises, and machinery parts and metal sheets were left scattered across the plant.

The gas leak

A leak of methylene dichloride (MDC) followed the explosion, according to reports and an official of the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH). The gas, together with dust from the blast, covered the plant and its surroundings in a thick haze. Workers and others at the site complained of severe eye irritation, and some fell ill after exposure.

MDC is a volatile solvent commonly used in pharmaceutical manufacturing. It can irritate the eyes, skin, and airways, which is why the leak added to the risks in the immediate aftermath.

The victims

The bodies of the five dead were taken to Bharuch Civil Hospital. Four have been named in reports as Jaideep Patel (27), Aniketkumar Harikishor (24), Arjun Ramsingh Gautam (20) and Vrund Talavia. Authorities were still verifying the identity of the fifth. The six injured were admitted to hospitals in Bharuch and Vadodara.

The company and the probe

The company had reportedly begun operations with 53 employees and had not completed a year at the Saykha GIDC estate.

Teams from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) have reached the site. They are examining the reactor, the extent of the chemical release, and whether the plant followed safety norms. No cause has been given yet, and officials have not said whether any safety lapses contributed to the deaths and injuries.

A familiar worry in the chemical belt

Industrial accidents are a recurring concern in Gujarat’s chemical and pharma corridors. Bharuch’s belt has seen several serious accidents in recent years, including a 2020 blast at a Dahej chemical plant that killed five people. Hydrogenation reactions work with hydrogen gas under pressure, which makes strict controls on equipment, ventilation and operating procedures essential.

What residents should do

Anyone living or working near the Saykha estate should follow advisories from the district administration and avoid going near the plant. Those with eye irritation, coughing, or breathing difficulty should seek medical help.

What to watch

The questions now are what caused the reactor to fail, whether the unit had the necessary approvals and safety systems, and whether anyone will be held accountable. Compensation for the families of the dead has not been reported.

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