Five killed, five injured in explosion at Gujarat chemical unit

An explosion at a pharmaceutical unit in the Saykha GIDC area of Gujarat's Bharuch district resulted in five worker fatalities and five critical injuries. According to reports, the blast took place late Friday night at 11 pm during a hydrogenation process at the facility located in Vagra taluka. The impact was powerful enough to be heard up to 10 kilometres away, causing neighbouring industrial units to shake and scattering machinery parts across the premises. A suspected gas leak also caused eye irritation among people at the site.

Around 20 workers were reported to be on duty when the incident occurred, leading to confusion over the number of people trapped, evacuated, or hospitalised. Local residents and political figures raised concerns about transparency and industrial safety. A local resident alleged that the full extent of the tragedy was suppressed and demanded accountability and full compensation from the company management for the families of the victims. Meanwhile, a political leader demanded substantial financial compensation from the state government for the families of the deceased and injured, alongside a thorough investigation into industrial safety practices in the district.

Emergency responders, including the police, the Mamlatdar, fire tenders, and ambulance teams, rushed to the site following the explosion. The Department of Industrial Safety and Health has launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the blast and to check for any potential safety lapses that may have contributed to the disaster.

Not yet reported: The reports do not specify the exact name of the pharmaceutical company operating the unit or any legal charges filed against management.