A major fire broke out at a chemical factory in Gujarat’s Bharuch district following an explosion on Thursday, leaving several workers injured and causing panic in the surrounding area, officials said.
The incident occurred in the GIDC industrial area of Jhagadia, where an explosion was reported at the factory outlet of Metropolitan Eximchem, a chemical manufacturing company. The blast was followed by a massive fire, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky, alarming nearby residents and workers.
According to information available on the company’s website, Metropolitan Eximchem is among the rapidly expanding chemical manufacturers in India, specialising in custom synthesis and specialty chemicals for various industries.
Soon after the explosion, multiple fire tenders were rushed to the site to control the blaze, while rescue teams launched an operation to evacuate the injured and prevent further damage. Senior police officials also reached the spot and began an investigation into the cause of the explosion.
Officials confirmed that several workers sustained injuries in the incident and were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, videos from the site showing dense smoke billowing from the factory premises quickly spread on social media.
The Bharuch explosion comes just weeks after another major fire incident in Gujarat. In March this year, a blaze erupted at the Millennium-1 textile market near Sahara Darwaja in Surat, prompting a large-scale firefighting response.
At that time, 18 fire tenders were deployed to contain the fire, and authorities managed to bring the situation under control without any casualties. Speaking about that incident, Chief Fire Officer Basant Parikh had said, “Fire engines rushed to douse the fire at the Kamela Darwaja hub, with 5-7 shops, including godown, destroyed in the textile market. The fire is now under control, and no casualties have been reported.”
He further added, “18 fire engines reached here. After that, our officers together controlled it. We saw the smoke from there. The shopkeepers here are saying that there was a blast in an AC, and it started because of that.”
Authorities are now investigating the exact cause of the chemical factory explosion in Bharuch, while efforts continue to fully extinguish the fire and assess the extent of the damage.
