Bharuch, October 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Five workers were killed and six others injured after a reactor exploded during a hydrogenation process at a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit in Gujarat’s Bharuch district, triggering a reported chemical gas leak and a rescue operation late on Friday night.
The incident took place at SynZeal Pharmachem in the Saykha Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) estate in Vagra taluka. A 15-kilolitre reactor reportedly exploded while the unit was carrying out the hydrogenation process.
The force of the explosion sent debris beyond the company premises, while machinery components and metal sheets were scattered across the plant. A reported leak of methylene dichloride (MDC) gas following the blast added to the impact, with the area becoming covered in dust and haze.
Workers and others at the site complained of severe eye irritation following the reported leak.
The injured were rushed to hospitals in Bharuch and Vadodara for treatment, while the bodies of those killed were taken to Bharuch Civil Hospital.
The blast caused panic across the industrial estate, prompting police and district officials to reach the site and coordinate rescue efforts.
Teams from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and the Industrial Safety and Health Department also began examining the incident, including the circumstances surrounding the reported chemical leak.
Bharuch Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manisha Manani said the explosion occurred during the hydrogenation process. Officials are investigating the cause of the blast and examining whether the unit complied with applicable industrial safety requirements.
The precise cause of the explosion has not yet been established.
Four of the deceased were identified as Jaideep Patel, 27, a shift in-charge from Vagra; Aniketkumar Harikishor, 24; Arjun Ramsingh Gautam, 20; and Vrund Talavia. Authorities were continuing efforts to establish the identity of the fifth victim.
The company had reportedly started operations at the Saykha GIDC estate with 53 employees and had been functioning there for less than a year.
The ongoing investigation is expected to determine the cause of the reactor explosion, the extent of the reported chemical release and whether any safety violations contributed to the deaths and injuries.
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