Pharma factory gutted at Vapi GIDC

Surat: A major fire erupted following a blast at the manufacturing unit of a pharmaceutical company in phase III of Vapi GIDC in Valsad district on Saturday noon. No casualty has been reported.

Sources in the Vapi GIDC fire department stated that the blast occurred in the chemical solvent drums kept in the manufacturing unit of Shakti Biosciences Limited in Vapi at about 12 pm.

About 12 fire tenders from Vapi notified area, Sarigam industrial area, Valsad Nagarpalika, Umbergaon industrial estate and the union territory of Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli (DNH) were rushed to control the fire.

While the exact reason behind the blast is yet to be ascertained, but there was heavy black smoke coming out from the factory that was visible from a long distance. Other industrial units in the vicinity of the affected factory were asked to shut manufacturing activity and vacate the premises as a precaution.

Fire officials stated that the fire was brought under control after nearly two hours long the firefighters. The entire three-storey building of the pharmaceutical company was gutted in the fire.

Preliminary investigation by the fire officials suggested that there was a short circuit in the area where the chemical solvent was stored. The staff members in the company immediately rushed out of the manufacturing unit following the short circuit incident.

A fire officer of Vapi GIDC said, “The fire occurred due to the blast in the drums containing hazardous chemical solvents used in the manufacturing of API and other intermediates at the pharma company. Luckily, all the staff members had moved out of the unit following the short circuit incident.”