A tragic incident occurred at a chemical manufacturing factory in Surat, resulting in a massive blast and subsequent fire that claimed the lives of seven workers. The bodies of these individuals were discovered on the premises early on Thursday, November 30, as confirmed by Surat district collector Ayush Oak.
Among the deceased, one was an employee of Aether Industries Ltd, the company where the incident took place, while the remaining six were contractual workers. The Surat police recovered seven charred bodies from the factory following the major fire caused by an explosion in a large tank due to a chemical leakage around 2 am on Wednesday. This unfortunate event led to injuries for 24 workers.
The blaze engulfed the Aether Industries unit located in Sachin GIDC industrial area, prompting rescue operations that successfully saved 24 individuals trapped inside. Those injured in the fire, sustaining burns, are currently receiving medical treatment.
Authorities are actively involved in managing the aftermath of this tragedy, with ongoing investigations to ascertain the cause of the fire and the circumstances resulting in the loss of lives. At the time of the fire outbreak, over 100 laborers were on night duty at the factory.
Aether Industries, based in Surat, supplies chemicals to various industries such as agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and oil and gas. The company operates two factories in Gujarat, India.