Five dead and five injured as chemical plant blast tears through SynZeal Pharmachem in Bharuch

UPDATE - follow-up to Five workers killed, many injured in blast at chemical unit in Gujarat's Bharuch: Five workers died and five others were hurt after an explosion ripped through the SynZeal Pharmachem plant in Bharuch's Saykha GIDC area on Friday night. The blast happened at about 10 p.m. while a hydrogenation process was under way, and it tore open the reactor vessel, sending metal parts scattering across the site. The rupture also released a cloud of toxic methylene dichloride (MDC) gas. Sub‑Divisional Magistrate Manisha Manani said the company, which started operations a year ago, makes pharmaceutical intermediates. Superintendent of Police Akshyaraj Makwana identified the deceased as Jaydeep Maheshbhai Patel, Bhavik Dilipkumar Vasava, Vrund Talaviya, Aniket Harilal Gautam and Arjunkumar Ramsingh Gautam. The injured—Pavankumar Ramsingh Gautam, Mausamkumar Ramsevak Yadav, Shivdayal Ramavatar Yadav, Pratik Pravin Prajapati and Priyanshu Bahadurlal—are being treated in local hospitals. A Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health official confirmed the MDC leak was triggered by the explosion. Teams from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, DISH and police have reached the scene and are probing the cause. ## Context Chemical plants in Gujarat handle hazardous substances, so strict safety oversight by agencies such as the Gujarat Pollution Control Board is essential to prevent such incidents.