Thane chemical factory blast: Death toll mounts to 9; factory owners booked for culpable homicide | Watch
PTC Web Desk: With the recovery of one more body, the death toll in the chemical factory blast at Thane in Maharashtra has mounted to nine. The boiler exploded at the factory on Thursday. The impact of the blast was such that the fire affected adjacent factories and houses.
The owners of the unit, Amudan Chemicals, which is located in Phase 2 of Dombivli MIDC, have been booked for culpable homicide. Kalyan Tehsildar Sachin Shejal said they suspect that more bodies were lying on the premises of the charred factory. He said the debris was being cleared, and there were high chances of more bodies being discovered.
As many as 64 persons, including women from the factories in the vicinity, sustained injuries and are admitted in various hospitals.
Kailas Nikam of the Disaster Management Cell of Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) said cooling operations were now underway.
As of now, the area is emanating acrid smell of burnt chemicals.. A revenue official said ‘panchnama’ (assessment) would be done to decide further course of action.
A case has been registered against the factory owners under Section 304A (culpable homicide) of the IPC and sections concerning explosive substances and hazardous chemicals.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said the chemical factory produced food colours and uses peroxides that were highly reactive.
- With inputs from agencies
