Maharashtra chemical factory fire LIVE UPDATES: Injured people at the hospital. The explosion triggered fires in at least five factory units nearby. (Source: Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)
At least three people were killed and several injured following a massive fire, caused by a powerful blast at a chemical factory in Tarapur’s Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area late Thursday night. The fire, which spread to at least six other units in the area, occurred after a boiler containing industrial solvent burst under high temperature and pressure. Rescue operations are underway. Officials from the police and fire department and medical teams are at the site.
The deceased have been identified as Pintu Kumar Gautam, Janu Adaria and Alok Nath from aarti drugs Ltd. Palghar police superintendent told The Indian Express, “Fire has come down, but few areas are still burning. Six chemical factories–Novaphene, Unimax, Prachi, Arti, Bharat Rasayan, Darbar–were affected by fire. During the search operation, three dead bodies were found at Arti industries site. There may be more casualties. Search and rescue operation is going on.”
The blast occurred at around 11.10 pm in Novaphene Specialties Private Limited in E-107 unit of MIDC. According to locals, at least 22 tankers, of varying capacity between 100-200 litres, burst due to the fire. Read More See photos
At least three people were killed and 13 injured in a blast followed by a massive fire which ripped through six chemical factories in Tarapur industrial area late Thursday night. The fire has not been fully doused yet, and the rescue operation is underway. Some areas are still burning.
Alok Nath died in the Maharashtra chemical factory fire which happened last night in Palghar district.
The incident took place at Ramdeo Chemicals in the Boisar-Tarapur industrial estate.
The impact of the blast was felt in villages around 8 km away from the factory, PTI quoted a police officer as saying. Tarapur Atomic Power Station, which is also located on the Boisar-Tarapur Road, is around 20 km away from the spot.
The three deceased are Pintu Kumar Gautam, Janu Adaria and Alok Nath. All the three are from aarti drugs Ltd.
All fire brigade and police staff have been advised to wear masks. The chemicals are unknown yet but the air is toxic.
The entire area has been cordoned off. (Source: Express photos by Amit Chakravarty)
SP, Palghar, said, "Fire has come down, but few areas are still burning. Six factories were affected by fire. Novaphene, Unimax, Prachi, Arti, Bharat Rasayan, Darbar. All chemical factories. During the search operation, three unidentified dead bodies have been found at Arti industries site. There may be more casualties. Search and rescue operation is going on."
A Boisar police station official said, “The blast was so massive, windows in police station shattered. I was in my house, which is five km from the spot and our window panes started shaking by the impact.” Those injured were rushed to Thunga, Sanjeevani, Vikas, Anand and government rural hospital in Palghar.
The collector added that aid was asked for controlling the fire from Vasai-Virar Municipal corporation, Tarapur Atomic Plant and Reliance thermal power station.
There are around 1,100 chemical plants and additional 400-500 other factories in MIDC Tarapur. (Source: Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)
Police said, “After the explosion, there was a lot of smoke everywhere and the electricity got cut. The entire building shook and everything fell around us. Around eight labourers with me ran out of the factory.”
Yadav, a native of Madhya Pradesh, sustained a head injury. According to fire officials, 11 fire tankers were rushed to the spot. “The fire was too big to control. It quickly spread to nearby factories. All precautionary measures are currently in place,” Palghar police superintendent Manjunath Singhe told The Indian Express.
From Novaphene, the fire spread to adjoining factories— Aarti Drugs, Prachi Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd, Bharat Vasayan and Unimax. Prachi Ltd is an iodine salt manufacturer, while Aarti Drugs manufactures vitamins and antibiotics. Aarti Drug’s staffer Sunil Yadav said he heard a loud explosion while he was working at night.
The factory manufactures speciality chemicals and cosmetic preservatives dealing in high purity acid and acid anhydrides. It also owns a manufacturing unit in Dahisar.
Workers in neighbouring factories claim several labourers were working in the factory where the blast occurred at night. (Source: Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)
“The reverberations of the blast were strongly felt in 8-10 kilometre radius. Vibrations were felt till Palghar,” a police official from Boisar police station said. The impact of the blast shattered window panes in buildings as far as three kilometers away, including Boisar police station.
Revenue, police, fire, medical teams have been pressed into service. The entire area has been cordoned off as teams are trying their best to extinguish the fire.
Manjunath Singhe, Superintendent of Police, Palghar, said, “There are rumours about deaths of a labourer. So far no worker has died in the mishap. The industry officials have not confirmed whether a night shift was on or if the labourers were inside. Nobody has died so far.”
A massive fire ripped through five chemical factories in Tarapur’s Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area late Thursday night. Follow our LIVE blog for latest updates.
(With inputs from ENS)