Surat: Major fire breaks out in a pharmaceutical company, no casualty reported

SURAT:

Major fire

was reported at a

pharmaceutical company

situated in the third phase of Vapi GIDC in

Valsad district

due to the blast in the chemical solvent drums stored in the manufacturing unit on Saturday noon. No casualty is reported.

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 the spot to take the fire under control. The fire erupted at about 1.15pm and was brought under control within two hours.

Sources in the

fire department

of Vapi GIDC said there was a blast in the solvent drums of Shakti Biosciences private limited, a pharmaceutical company located in the third phase of Vapi GIDC. While the exact reason behind the blast is yet to be ascertained, but there was heavy smoke coming out from the factory that was visible from long distance.



Sources said that the fire could have erupted due to short circuit in the manufacturing plant of the company. After the short circuit incident, the staff workers rushed out of the company. The company had restarted operations with less than 15% staff post-lockdown.

DN Vaghela, fire officer of Vapi GIDC told TOI, “We have successfully taken the fire under control. The cooling activity has been started. WE have checked the entire premises and could not find any one injured or dead”

Vaghela added, “Manufacturing activity in the other factories located in the close vicinity of the affected company was asked to shut with immediate effect”