Surat: A powerful explosion at a chemical factory in the Bharuch district of Gujarat has left 15 workers with burn injuries, five of whom are reported to be in critical condition. The critically injured workers have been transferred to advanced medical facilities in Surat and Vadodara for specialized treatment.
Incident Details
The blast occurred at Metropolitan Eximchem Pvt Ltd, a chemical manufacturing unit situated in the Jhagadia industrial area. Following the explosion, a major fire call was declared, prompting firefighting teams from Jhagadia, Ankleshwar, and Bharuch to rush to the scene. The teams worked tirelessly to bring the blaze under control.
Officials from the district administration, the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH), the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), and the local police also arrived at the site to assess the situation and coordinate response efforts.
Casualties and Rescue Operations
Jhagadia Mamlatdar Naresh Rana informed the media that the explosion took place in Plant-1 of the unit. Around 20 workers were present at the time of the incident. Fifteen sustained burn injuries, while five managed to escape unharmed. All the injured were initially taken to Jayaben Modi Hospital in Ankleshwar, where five were identified as being in critical condition.
According to a company official, the unit manufactures agrochemicals, and the blast occurred during a chemical process involving methanol. The fire generated thick black smoke that was visible from several kilometers away. Approximately 10 fire tenders were deployed, and firefighters took nearly four hours to fully extinguish the blaze using large quantities of water and foam.
The cause of the explosion is under investigation, with authorities focusing on safety protocols and chemical handling procedures at the facility.
