5 killed, 150 hurt in chemical factory blast near Mumbai

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, May 26

Five persons were killed and more than 150 injured in an explosion at a chemical factory at Dombivli on the outskirts of Mumbai on Thursday.

The death toll could rise as many people are suspected to be trapped in the factory premises, local residents said.

Police and fire brigade officials say the mishap occurred at 11.30 am when one of the boilers exploded leading to a fire at a unit of Acharya Chemicals in the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) complex, Dombivli East.

The intensity of the blast was so high that window panes in adjoining buildings were shattered

Confirming the deaths, Rajendra Develekar, Mayor, Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation, said houses and offices around a 2-km radius from the area were damaged by the blast.

Those injured in the incident have been taken to various hospitals in the vicinity, the police said.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief at the mishap while Industries Minister Subhash Desai and Guardian Minister for the district Eknath Shinde visited the site along with Thane District Collector Mahendra Kalyankar.

Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde said an inquiry would be conducted into the incident.

Terming the incident unfortunate, Fadnavis said he had asked the police and local authorities to speed up the operations.

Fire officials from the Kalyan-Dombivli civic body said they had to summon fire engines from nearby areas and from Mumbai to fight the fire. NDRF teams were rushed to the spot to conduct rescue operations as soon as news of the blast was broadcast on television.

(With agency inputs)