Five dead, five hurt as blast tears through Gujarat chemical plant

An explosion at the SynZeal Pharmachem chemical unit in Bharuch district, Gujarat, killed five workers and injured five more on Friday night. The blast struck at about 10 p.m. on October 16 while the plant was carrying out a hydrogenation process, and it ripped open the reactor vessel, sending metal fragments across the site. The rupture also released a cloud of toxic methylene dichloride gas. SynZeal Pharmachem, which began operations a year ago in the Saykha GIDC area of Vagra taluka, produces pharmaceutical intermediates. The Sub‑Divisional Magistrate of Bharuch, Manisha Manani, confirmed the death toll and said the injured workers are being treated in local hospitals. Superintendent of Police Akshyaraj Makwana identified the deceased as Jaydeep Maheshbhai Patel and Bhavik Dilipkumar Vasava of Amod, Vrund Talaviya of Talala in Gir Somnath district, and Aniket Harilal Gautam and Arjunkumar Ramsingh Gautam, both from Uttar Pradesh. The injured include Pavankumar Ramsingh Gautam, Mausamkumar Ramsevak Yadav, Shivdayal Ramavatar Yadav, Pratik Pravin Prajapati and Priyanshu Bahadurlal, who come from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Officials from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health and police have reached the site, and an inquiry into the cause of the explosion is under way.

Context

Hydrogenation involves high pressures and temperatures, making equipment failures particularly dangerous. Methylene dichloride is a hazardous solvent that can cause respiratory problems if inhaled. Industrial accidents like this often lead to tighter safety inspections and stricter handling guidelines for toxic chemicals.