A tragic boiler explosion at a pharmaceutical factory in Bharuch district of Gujarat claimed two lives and left 20 workers injured early Wednesday morning, according to officials. The blast triggered a massive fire and caused parts of the factory structure to collapse.
Blast in Saykha GIDC Area
The incident occurred around 2:30 am at a manufacturing facility located in the Saykha GIDC industrial estate, one of Gujarat’s key chemical and pharmaceutical hubs.
“A powerful boiler explosion inside the factory triggered a massive fire,” said Gaurang Makwana, the Bharuch District Collector, while confirming the fatalities.
Structure Collapses, Workers Trapped
The impact of the explosion was so intense that parts of the building caved in. While most workers managed to flee in time, two of them got trapped under the debris.
Their bodies were recovered after firefighters managed to control the blaze several hours later.
“Nearly 20 workers suffered minor injuries while escaping. All injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment,” Makwana added.
Emergency Response and Investigation
Teams from the Fire Brigade, Police, and Forensic Department reached the site soon after the blast. Fire tenders battled the flames for hours before the fire was completely extinguished.
Officials have launched a detailed forensic and safety audit to determine the exact cause of the boiler explosion. Preliminary reports suggest the blast may have been triggered by pressure buildup inside the reactor system, though confirmation is pending.
Authorities are also verifying reports that one worker may still be missing.
Industrial Safety Concerns in Focus
The Bharuch–Ankleshwar industrial belt is among India’s largest chemical zones and has witnessed several similar incidents in recent years. Experts have renewed calls for stricter industrial safety audits and better compliance with boiler and fire safety norms across Gujarat’s industrial estates.
Local officials said a special inspection team would be formed to review safety procedures in all chemical and pharmaceutical factories in the area following this tragedy.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
