Toxic gas leak at Gujarat fluorochemicals plant in Bharuch claims four lives

The Bharuch district police have initiated an investigation into a toxic gas leak at the CMS plant of Gujarat Fluorochemicals Limited (GFL) in Dahej near Bharuch in India's Gujarat, which resulted in the deaths of four workers on Saturday night.

The incident occurred around 9:30 PM IST in the distillation unit of the Chloromethane plant (CMS) due to a valve malfunction, causing a mixture of methyl chloride, chloroform, and hydrogen chloride vapors to leak.

The workers, identified as Rajesh Magnadia (48) from Bharuch, Mahesh Nandlal (25) and Suchitkumar Prasad (29) from Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh, and Mudrika Thakor Yadav (29) from Thana Kharogi in Jharkhand, were exposed to the toxic fumes.

Officials from the Dahej Marine police station stated that the workers lost consciousness inside the production unit. They were rushed to the company's medical facility and subsequently transferred to a multispecialty hospital in Dahej, where they were admitted to the ICU. Tragically, all four succumbed to the effects of the gas exposure in the early hours of Sunday.

Manisha Manani, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, confirmed that the bodies were sent to the civil hospital for autopsies. Families of the deceased have been notified and are present at the hospital.

The Bharuch police have taken custody of the bodies and have enlisted forensic experts and industrial safety teams to probe the accident. A senior police officer revealed that the investigation will focus on identifying lapses in safety protocols and assessing liability for the tragedy.

The CMS plant, which handles hazardous substances, is now under scrutiny for possible negligence in maintaining equipment and safety standards. Local authorities have assured a thorough inquiry to prevent similar incidents in the future.

This tragic incident highlights the critical need for stringent industrial safety measures, especially in facilities dealing with toxic chemicals.