Thane: Over 100 explosions heard during blaze at ‘high-risk’ Dombivli MIDC unit

KALYAN: A major fire broke out at a chemical unit in Dombivli MIDC on Tuesday afternoon, the latest among several such emergencies over the years requiring evacuation of people from the high-density residential areas situated dangerously close to the industrial area. There were no reports of injuries.
The affected unit, Metropolitan Eximchem Pvt Ltd in MIDC Phase 2, was on the list of five “very dangerous” manufacturers that locals want shifted elsewhere.

Over 100 explosions took place and the sound could be heard up to 2 km away, reminding people of the Probace factory blast of 2016 that killed a dozen people and damaged over 2,000 homes in a 2-km radius.
“The detailed report sought by CM Uddhav Thackeray on companies violating norms is likely to be submitted on February 21 and I have instructed officials to add details about the company which has caught fire today,” Thane district collector Rajesh Narvekar said.
The Metropolitan Eximchem fire was still raging at the time of going to press.
In recent years, there have been a series of fires and blasts in MIDC areas in the region, raising concerns about ageing infrastructure and outdated safety practices.
The staff at Metropolitan Eximchem said over 500 people were at work there when the fire began in the storage unit at 12.30 pm. The unit occupying around 4,000 square metres produces over 100 products, among them intermediates for dyes, pigments, pharmaceuticals and plastics.
Neighbouring companies and a school were given a holiday. The police vacated residential buildings within 500 metres.
Some staff members activated a siren to alert others, saving several lives. “We tried to control the fire but when a drum with a chemical started exploding, the fire spread and we went outside, alerting other staff using the siren bell,” a worker said.
Senior staff said the first fire brigade vehicle arrived in 15 minutes but the next one took 45 minutes, during which time the fire had spread to the entire unit.
Kalyan-Dombivli chief fire officer Dilip Gund said fire teams were also called from Ambernath, Thane and Mumbai. “We used 12 fire brigade vehicles and many water tankers, and 10,000 litres of foam,” he said.
Besides the collector, additional commissioner of police Dattatreya Karale and MPCB, MIDC and municipal officers visited the spot.