Bharuch: At least five workers were killed and five others injured after a powerful explosion tore through a chemical manufacturing facility in Gujarat’s Bharuch district late Friday night, triggering a leak of toxic methylene dichloride (MDC) gas, officials said on Saturday.

The incident occurred around 10 pm at SynZeal Pharmachem, located in the Saykha Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) area of Vagra taluka. The explosion reportedly took place during a hydrogenation process at the facility, which manufactures pharmaceutical intermediates.

According to Bharuch Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manisha Manani, the chemical unit had been established in the industrial area just a year ago.

The blast was so intense that it tore apart the reactor tank, sending pieces of machinery flying across the factory premises.

Preliminary findings suggest that the explosion occurred during the hydrogenation process, although the exact cause has yet to be established.

Bharuch Superintendent of Police Akshyaraj Makwana confirmed that five workers lost their lives in the incident, while another five sustained injuries.

The deceased have been identified as Jaydeep Maheshbhai Patel and Bhavik Dilipkumar Vasava, both residents of Amod; Vrund Talaviya, a native of Talala in Gir Somnath district; and Aniket Harilal Gautam and Arjunkumar Ramsingh Gautam, both from Uttar Pradesh.

The injured workers were identified as Pavankumar Ramsingh Gautam, Mausamkumar Ramsevak Yadav, Shivdayal Ramavatar Yadav, Pratik Pravin Prajapati and Priyanshu Bahadurlal. Officials said the injured workers, who hail from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, are undergoing medical treatment.

An official from the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) confirmed that the explosion during the hydrogenation process resulted in a leak of methylene dichloride gas, a chemical solvent used in industrial manufacturing.

Following the incident, teams from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, DISH and local police arrived at the factory to assess the situation and investigate the circumstances surrounding the explosion.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine what caused the reactor to explode and whether safety procedures were followed at the facility.

Further details regarding the extent of the gas leak and its potential impact on surrounding areas are awaited.