Massive fire in pharma unit in Gujarat's Bharuch

SURAT: A major fire broke out at a healthcare company’s active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) manufacturing unit in GIDC estate in Panoli in Bharuch on Sunday.
Fire officials said that the fire broke out after a blast due to some chemical reactions in the unit.
Post the blast, flames engulfed the entire unit within a short time. “The thick cloud of smoke billowing from the fire was visible from several kilometres away. Besides the fire tenders of Panoli and neighbouring companies, fire teams from Ankleshwar and Disaster Prevention and Management Centre were also pressed into action,” a fire official said.
“There was a stock of isopropyl alcohol in the unit due to which the entire unit caught fire. It took several hours to douse the fire. Later, we undertook salvaging activities to cool down the structure,” he added.
No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident as the employees had rushed out in time.
Earlier too, several big fires have broken out in the industrial estates of Bharuch district, raising questions of fire safety measures by units.