At least three workers were killed and nearly 25 others injured in explosion at an industrial unit in Dombivili township of Thane district today, police said.
The mishap occurred when cylinders exploded leading to a fire in the chemical manufacturing unit of Herbert Brown Pharmaceutical & Research Laboratories at Shivaji Udyog Nagar of MIDC phase-II area in Dombivili (East), District Disaster Control Officer Dinesh Kurhade said.
Three workers were killed in the explosion and about 25 others injured, a senior IPS officer told PTI.
An eyewitness said that the intensity of the blast was so much that window panes in several adjoining buildings were shattered and people were seen running helter-skelter.
More than a dozen fire tenders were at the site to douse the flames, Kurhade said.
Chaos prevailed in vicinity of the industrial unit where the blast occurred.
The injured workers were rushed to various hospitals.
Thane District Collector Dr Mahendra Kalyankar and Municipal Commissioner E Ravindran were monitoring the rescue operation.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed it as an unfortunate incident and said he has asked the police and local authorities to speed up the rescue operations.
“Saddened to know about the unfortunate & tragic incident that took place at Dombivali,” Fadnavis tweeted.
“Spoke to police officials & local authorities and asked them to speed up the relief operations,” he said.
“We are constantly in touch with the local administration and we would leave no stone unturned in our efforts & relief operation,” he mentioned in another tweet.
Saddened to know about the unfortunate & tragic incident that took place at Dombivali. (1/3)
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) May 26, 2016
Spoke to police officials & local authorities and asked them to speed up the relief operations. #Dombivali (2/3)
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) May 26, 2016
We are constantly in touch with the local administration and we would leave no stone unturned in our efforts & relief operation. (3/3)
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) May 26, 2016
Thane Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde said all efforts were being made to expedite the rescue operation and ensure proper medical care to the injured persons.
He said the cause of the explosion would be probed.
BJP MLA from Dombivili Ravindra Chavan expressed serious concern over the explosions in the MIDC and sought a permanent solution to it.
Thane District Regional Disaster Management Cell in-charge Santosh Kadam said the rescue operations were affected because of the fire in the company premises. Hence, it was not immediately known how many persons were trapped inside, he said.
At least 15 ambulances were rushed to the site, he added.