Surat: Five workers were killed and five others injured after a powerful explosion at a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit in Saykha GIDC of Bharuch district’s Vagra taluka on Friday.The blast occurred at the SynZeal Pharmachem plant, where a 5-kilolitre reactor reportedly exploded during a hydrogenation process. The force of the explosion scattered machinery parts and debris across and beyond the factory premises.A suspected gas leak following the explosion triggered panic in the surrounding area, with several people reporting eye irritation.The deceased were identified as Jaydeep Patel and Bhavik Vasava from Amod, Vrund Talaviya from Talala in Gir-Somnath district, and Uttar Pradesh natives Aniket Gautam and Arjunkumar Gautam. Officials said Patel, a chemistry postgraduate, worked as a senior officer, while Talaviya served as an officer in the production department. The remaining victims were helpers at the unit.Among the injured, Priyanshu Bahadurlal and Pratik Prajapati were shifted to Vadodara for advanced treatment. Three others, Pavan Gautam, Mausam Yadav and Shivdayal Yadav, were treated and later discharged.Police have registered a case of accidental death and started an investigation into the accident. Separate inquiries have also been initiated by the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB).“Based on inquiry reports of different departments, police will take further steps,” a police officer said.A DISH official said preliminary findings suggest the plant began operations in June, and around 20 people were present when the explosion occurred. Construction of another plant and additional buildings is currently underway at the site.
