5 killed in factory explosion

Blast rips through industrial unit in Maharashtra injuring 150

A powerful industrial blast claimed five lives and injured over 150 people in the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area of Dombivli eastern suburbs, about 45 km from downtown Mumbai. 

Due to the impact of the blast, the entire Kalyan-Dombivli was shaken and window panes of nearby industrial units and residential areas were shattered.

Roofs of some houses in a nearby slum and locked doors of other houses in the area were blown off. Some people also reported that windshields of cars were blown off and several TV sets were damaged by the blast.

The blast took place between 11.30 am and 11.45 am on the premises of Probace Enterprises located in the Phase-II of MIDC, popularly known as the Shivaji Udyog Nagar.     
     
The blast also had an impact on the neighbouring premises of Acharya Chemicals and Herbert Brown Pharmaceutical and Research Laboratories.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a thorough probe into the incident which would go into the causes and assured that the guilty would not be spared.The government has decided to review safety measures in industrial areas and adjacent residential localities.

The government has also decided to have a look whether some of the units that deal in hazardous chemicals could be shifted.

“Several people have been affected, the main job now is to provide relief to the injured,” Thane District Collector Mahendra Kalyankar said.

The injured were rushed to various hospitals in Thane, Dombivli and Kalyan, according to Kalyan-Dombivli Mayor Rajendra Deolekar, who said the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel were also involved in the rescue operation, along with fire brigade and police.

Fire tenders from the neighbouring places were also rushed to the spot. Fadnavis, who also visited the site, tweeted: “Saddened to know about the unfortunate & tragic incident that took place at Dombivali. Spoke to police officials & local authorities and asked them to speed up the relief operations.We are constantly in touch with the local administration and we would leave no stone unturned in our efforts & relief operation.”