Fire breaks out at chemical factory in Maharashtra; three dead, 15 injured
At least three people were killed and 15 were injured after a major fire broke out after an explosion inside a boiler of a chemicals factory in Maharashtra's Palghar district last night, police said. The fire engulfed the factory at around mid night. During a search, three unidentified bodies were found at the Arti industries site, said Palghar Superintendent of Police (SP) Manjunath Shinge. The 15 injured, three of whom are critical, have been admitted in three hospitals in Boisar, Singe said, adding that the number of casualties could go up. "There may be more casualties. Search and rescue operation is going on," the SP said. “It is clear that the said unit did not follow any safety precautions and due to an exothermic reaction, the blast occurred in the solvent drums. We are probing and the guilty will be charged under relevant sections of the IPC and we may recommend the government to cancel the manufacturing licence of the guilty units,” said Palghar district collector Narnaware. He suspected that the fire spread as there were chemical drums inside these companies. Tarapur Atomic Power Station, which is also located on the Boisar-Tarapur Road, is around 20 km away from the spot, he said. -PTC News
