A massive fire broke out in a chemical plant in Surat injuring at least 24 people. At the time of the incident, there were approximately 150 labourers at work. According to a Reuters report 6 people died. The fire occurred at the plant located in Sachin GIDC Industrial area and was reportedly caused by a blast in a storage tank containing a combustible substance.
The explosion set the factory’s three-story building on fire, spreading throughout the entire unit, according to another official. Over a dozen firefighting vehicles quickly arrived at the scene, and they are currently working to control the fire.
The 24 who were injured have incurred burns of varying degrees and were first sent to private hospitals before being transferred to other hospitals. Later reports claim that 7 bodies were recovered from the explosion site on Thursday morning.
According to Ayush Oak, the Surat District Collector, of the seven who succumbed, one was an employee while the others were contractual workers. The people who passed away are Divyesh Patel, who worked for the company, along with Santosh Vishwakarma, Sanat Kumar Mishra, Dharmendra Kumar, Ganesh Prasad, Sunil Kumar, and Abhishek Singh.
Aether Industries’ stock drops post fire
The share prices of Aether Industries went down by 7% following the blast at its Surat facility on 29 November but at this time the casualties were not reported. Aether Industries’ stock dropped more than 2% to reach its lowest value in a year, at Rs 809 per share on NSE. This decline followed the blast, and it marks the second consecutive day of losses for the company’s shares.
Aether Industries, located in Surat, is a significant manufacturer specializing in advanced intermediates and specialty chemicals. They focus on intricate and unique chemistry and possess expertise in technology.
The company’s products are used in various industries like pharmaceuticals, agriculture, materials, coatings, high-performance photography, additives, and oil and gas. Aether Industries recently signed an agreement with Saudi Aramco Tech for Converge polyols technology, and they’ve started manufacturing and selling products using this technology.
