At least one killed as hydrogen tank blast triggers major fire at Naroda GIDC chemical unit

A major fire broke out following an explosion in a hydrogen storage tank at a chemical manufacturing unit in Ahmedabad's Naroda GIDC on Friday afternoon, leaving one person dead and more than 10 persons injured, triggering a large-scale emergency response by the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services. 

According to fire officials, the incident occurred at around 12.18 pm at MSN Intermediates Pvt Ltd near Arbuda Kanta in the Naroda GIDC industrial estate. Preliminary information suggests that a hydrogen tank caught fire and subsequently exploded, leading to a blaze involving solvent material stored at the facility.

The Fire Control Room received an emergency call at 12.18 pm, with the first firefighting vehicle being dispatched within two minutes. Fire tenders reached the spot shortly thereafter and began operations to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to adjacent industrial units.

A total of 11 emergency vehicles, including one 10,000-litre water bowser, three 20,000-litre water bowsers, two ambulances and five first-responder vehicles, were deployed to the site. The operation involved 41 personnel, comprising firefighters, station officers, divisional fire officers, drivers and other emergency staff.

Fire official confirmed that 4 injured persons were shifted to the Civil Hospital through 108 emergency ambulance, rest sustained minor injuries were treated at the spot.

While unverified reports from the vicinity suggested that one person may have died in the incident, fire department officials had not confirmed any fatalities till the time of filing this report. The official fire control room briefing recorded the number of deaths as zero.

Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the explosion and determine whether safety protocols at the industrial unit were followed. Senior fire officers remained at the scene overseeing cooling operations and assessing the extent of damage.

Further details are awaited as rescue and assessment operations continue.