Gujarat: Five workers killed, 5 injured in blast at chemical unit
Bharuch, Oct 17: As many as five workers were killed and five others injured after an explosion ripped through a chemical manufacturing unit in Gujarat’s Bharuch district, officials said on Saturday.The blast occurred around 10 pm on Friday during a hydrogenation process at SynZeal Pharmachem in the Saykha GIDC area in Vagra taluka, triggering a toxic leak of methylene dichloride (MDC) gas, they said. SynZeal Pharmachem, set up in Saykha only a year ago, has been manufacturing pharma intermediaries, Bharuch Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manisha Manani said. The explosion, suspected to have occurred during a hydrogenation process, was so powerful that it ripped apart the reactor tank, scattering machinery parts across the premises, she said. SP Makwana said that five people were killed in the blast, while five others sustained injuries. The deceased were identified as Jaydeep Maheshbhai Patel and Bhavik Dilipkumar Vasava, both hailing from Amod; Vrund Talaviya from Talala in Gir Somnath district and Uttar Pradesh natives Aniket Harilal Gautam and Arjunkumar Ramsingh Gautam, he said. (PTI)
Haryana farmers block highway at Ambala over paddy curbs
Ambala, Oct 17: Farmers under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) blocked the Ambala-Hisar highway outside the New Grain Market here on Saturday in protest against issues related to the ongoing paddy procurement. The road blockade led to traffic snarls on the highway, causing inconvenience to commuters. The farmers, who came in tractors and trolleys, squatted in the middle of the road. On receiving information about the situation, sub-divisional magistrate Darshan Lal and police officials arrived at the scene. They assured the farmers that their demands would be conveyed to the government and requested them to clear the road. However, the farmers were adamant and continued their blockade. Following the protest, police diverted traffic through alternative routes. (PTI)
Air India, AI Express cancel Saudi Arabia flights till Oct 24
New Delhi, Oct 17: Air India and Air India Express on Saturday announced the extension of flight cancellations to Saudi Arabia until October 24 due to escalating geopolitical tensions in the region. Earlier this week, IndiGo and Akasa Air had also announced the cancellation of their services to Saudi Arabian cities. The airline said it was closely monitoring the situation. On Friday, Air India cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia till October 20, while Air India Express had earlier suspended operations to the Gulf country till October 17. IndiGo on Thursday announced extending the cancellation of flights to Saudi Arabian cities until October 24. On Thursday, Akasa Air said that in view of the prevailing security situation in the Middle East, it has extended the suspension of all flights to and from Riyadh until October 24 and Jeddah until October 21. (PTI)