Surat: With one more person succumbing to his injuries, the toll in October 14 night's blast at a chemical plant in Gujarat Narmada Valley Corporation (GNFC) in Bharauch district has risen to five, official sources said.

Of the 31 people injured, 16 were discharged after receiving first-aid in the GNFC hospital while five others with serious injuries have been shifted to SSG hospital Baroda.

Those killed were identified as P R Joglekar, N V Patel, G M Macwana, S Vankar and R Sambhaji.

The rescue and salvage work was over at 5 AM on October 15 and the plant was closed for rescue operation.

Officials have not yet cited the cause of the explosion as yet.

According to regional (RPT regional) district collector Bharuch, R K Parmar the area has been cordoned- off by GNFC authorities and the cleaning of the debris was on full swing.

The blast at the Nitrogen Phosphorous Ammonia plant took place around 9 PM, setting off fire in one of the boilers and led to the plants' collapse, official sources said.

District Collector Rajesh Topno said, that there was substantial damage to the building.

"There were about 40 to 45 people working in the factory at the time of blast", the collector said adding chances of any person trapped under the debris was remote.

PTI