Panchmahal: 2 dead, several injured in blast at chemical factory

On Thursday, a blast at Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited (GFL) in Goghamba, Gujarat's Panchmahal district, killed two workers and injured 14 others.

An explosion occurred about 10 a.m. inside the MPI-1 unit of the refrigerant production factory in Ranjitnagar, Goghamba, according to district police officers. According to the authorities, the sound of the explosion could be heard several kilometres away in the taluka.

Superintendent of Police, Panchmahal, Leena Patil confirmed the deaths, "There have been two deaths in the blast so far. We are yet to confirm the number of injured and those critical. At least 13 or 14 more persons are severely injured. The team of fire officials is ascertaining if there are any persons trapped inside the complex. Details on the nature of the blast have not yet been confirmed," Patil said.

According to authorities, at least three badly injured workers were transported to a private hospital in Halol.

Fire tenders from all around the district were dispatched to the scene, including private companies from Halol, Kalol, and Godhra.

The district police have shut down a five-kilometer approach road to GFL's Ranjitnagar complex, which is owned by INOX. According to the company's official website, the facility produces fluorospecialties and refrigerants.

GFL's single largest refrigerant facility in India was the site of the explosion.

"The site started in 1989 has four multi-purpose plants and is well equipped to handle diverse chemistry for fluorospeciality products in pharmaceutical and agrochemical industry globally. The site is self-sufficient with R & D, process scale-up and technology transfer capabilities," the website states.