MOSCOW (MRC) -- At least five workers died and around 50 suffered severe burn injuries after a mysterious explosion took place in Yashashvi Rasayan Private Ltd chemical factory at Dahej in Bharuch Wednesday, as thick smoke billowed out of the plant, said Indianexpress.
The injured have been admitted in Bharuch civil hospital and two other private hospitals. The explosion was so loud that it was heard up to a three kilometre radius. As a precautionary measure, the district administration officials has shifted around 4,800 people staying in two neighbouring villages. Fire tenders have been rushed to the spot to control the blaze.
According to Bharuch district disaster management authorities, hundreds of workers were present inside Yashashvi Rasayan at Lakhi village on Wednesday afternoon. Due to some unknown reason during a chemical process between two containers a reaction took place leading to a blast. The firm manufactures 20 types of chemical components.
Soon after the blast, some of the workers managed to come out of the factory and informed the managers and owners. Fire officials immediately reached the spot, along with the Disaster Management team of Bharuch district collector. Subsequently, a rescue operation was carried out from the factory premises. Police have initiated a probe into the incident.
Bharuch District collector M D Modia said, “We have sent our high level officials to the spot to know how the blast had taken place. The fire department are trying to douse the flames. At present around 50 workers were injured and they are been treated in Bharuch civil hospital and two private hospitals. We have evacuated 3000 villagers from Lakhi village and 1800 from Luvara village, to safer places, as a precautionary measure as there are few other chemical companies. Once the fire is brought under the control, we will shift them back."
Bharuch District Superintendent of police Rajendrasinh Chudasma said, “We have come to know that five bodies had been found inside the factory premises, but still fire staff is battling with fire flames. Once the fire is brought under control the exact picture will come out. Police are also present at the spot and are talking to people to get information. It will take after couple of hours. Some of the injured ones undergoing treatment in the hospitals are also critical."
As MRC informed earlier, in January 2020, a fire broke out the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited's (BPCL) plant in Mahul area of suburban Chembur. The blaze erupted in an air compressor at the main gate of the BPCL plant.
As MRC informed previously, BPCL plans to set up a petrochemicals unit at its Bina refinery in Madhya Pradesh as part of its Rs25,000 crore expansion plan for the refinery. The petrochemical unit, which will include a 1.5 mln tpa naphtha cracker, is expected to cost Rs6,000-7,000 crore.
Ethylene and propylene are feedstocks for producing PE and PP.
According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 383,760 tonnes in the first two month of 2020, up by 14% year on year. High density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) shipments increased due to the increased capacity utilisation at ZapSibNeftekhim. At the same time, PP shipments to the Russian market were 192,760 tonnes in January-February 2020, down by 6% year on year. Homopolymer PP accounted for the main decrease in imports.
MRC