INDIA – Boiler Explosion at Bharuch Pharma Plant Kills Two, Injures 20

A devastating boiler explosion ripped through the Vishalyakarni Pharmachem facility in Saykha GIDC near Bharuch on Tuesday night, killing two workers and injuring at least 20 others. One worker remains missing.

The blast, which is believed to have occurred in a reactor during chemical processing, triggered a massive fire that destroyed the entire factory building. At the time, six laborers were on the night shift at the unit, which produces active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and bulk drug intermediates. Several employees from neighboring units were also affected.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the explosion happened while processing a toluene derivative used in API production. Toluene acts primarily as a solvent and an intermediate in pharmaceutical synthesis.

Emergency services responded promptly, with eight fire engines from the Disaster Prevention and Management Centre (DPMC), Bharuch municipality, and other private and government agencies rushed to the scene to control the blaze. Officials from the Director of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH), sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), local police, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) also arrived to conduct investigations.

“The impact of the blast was so severe that the factory structure collapsed. While most workers managed to escape, two were trapped inside and lost their lives. Their bodies were recovered after the fire was extinguished. Around 20 others sustained minor injuries,” said Bharuch Collector Gaurang Makwana.

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