INDIA – Two Dead, Several Hospitalized After Toxic Gas Leak at Gujarat Fluorochemicals Plant

A toxic gas leak at Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd. (GFL) in Ranjitnagar, Ghoghamba taluka of Panchmahal district, has claimed two lives and left more than a dozen people ill.

The incident occurred on Wednesday 10 September between 12:00 and 12:30 p.m. when R-32 gas, a refrigerant commonly used in air conditioners, escaped from a pipeline inside the plant. According to the company, the leak lasted only 15–20 seconds, but it was enough to expose several people working in or near the premises.

One of the victims, Haresh Vyas, a temple priest at the site, died shortly after the incident. Another casualty, Sanjay Mahida, a 35-year-old laboratory employee, succumbed to his injuries days later after being placed on ventilator support.

At least 12 to 13 other individuals experienced nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. They were initially treated at the company’s health center, where antidotes were administered. The more serious cases were referred to hospitals in Halol and Vadodara, including Bhailal Amin General Hospital and BAPS Hospital, for further care.

Emergency protocols were activated immediately after the leak, with sprinklers turned on and plant operations temporarily suspended. Villages in the vicinity were alerted as a precautionary measure.

The Department for Industrial Safety and Health has launched an investigation into the cause of the rupture. Officials are examining whether proper safety measures were in place and how the pipeline failure occurred.

In December 2021, a blast at the same unit killed seven workers, raising long-standing concerns about safety practices at the plant.

Photo credit: Gujarat Fluoro Chemical Company (GFL). All rights reserved.