Five Workers Killed in Bharuch Chemical Reactor Blast at SynZeal Unit

The blast occurred around 10 p.m. on October 16 at the SynZeal Pharmachem facility located within the Saykha GIDC industrial area in Vagra taluka.

Established in 2011, SynZeal maintains its headquarters in Ahmedabad while manufacturing stable isotope-labelled products, metabolites, and specialised research materials.

The Bharuch district administration issued a notice to SynZeal directing it to suspend operations with immediate effect pending further action.

SynZeal is certified to ISO standards and recognized by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India.

The SynZeal Pharmachem manufacturing plant in Saykha reportedly began operations in May 2026 as a newly opened facility prior to the reactor explosion.

Severe Reactor Blast During Hydrogenation Process

Authorities reported that the detonation took place while workers were conducting an active chemical hydrogenation process inside the manufacturing plant. The blast proved so powerful that it tore the reactor tank apart and scattered machinery fragments across the surrounding factory premises, Bharuch Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manisha Manani reported. Heavy structural damage was documented across the manufacturing unit following the sudden explosion.

Toxic Methylene Dichloride Gas Leak

The violent reactor failure triggered an immediate toxic leak of methylene dichloride gas across the industrial facility.

Emergency Hospitalization of Injured Personnel

Emergency responders immediately transported the five injured workers to a nearby medical facility for urgent treatment.

Multi-Agency Technical Investigation Underway

Following the industrial disaster, inspectors from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, the Industrial Safety and Health Department, and local police teams arrived on site. Administrative authorities have initiated a coordinated joint inquiry to identify the exact mechanical and procedural failures that caused the reactor explosion.