Maha: Dombivli factory fire death toll touches 11

Mumbai, May 24 , 2024 : The number of deaths in Thursday’s mega blaze at a chemical factory at Dombivli in Thane district of Maharashtra touched 11 on Friday, an official said. Fire broke out following a boiler blast killing nine workers yesterday while 48 others were left injured. The explosion occurred in the boiler of Amber Chemical Company located in Phase 2 of the Dombivli MIDC area, the official added. The blast was so loud that it could be heard from a kilometre away, an eyewitness confirmed. Glass windows of an adjoining building shattered, while many houses in the vicinity were damaged due to the explosion. The injured workers were rushed to a local hospital. Information on X, shared by the Shinde government said: “Arrangements have been made to treat the injured and more ambulances have been kept ready.” Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis posted on X that he held discussions with the Thane collector in the aftermath of the tragedy. Teams of NDRF, TDRF, and fire brigade besides the Collector reached the spot. The blasts took place around lunch time. Late Thursday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the accident site and said that in view of the risks posed by certain categories of industries, the government plans to shift such hazardous factories to another location to avoid such disasters in future. Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Leader of Opposition (Council) Ambadas Danve, who visited the accident site Friday morning called for legal action against the factory owners on charges of culpable homicide plus ordering a thorough probe into the incident. “The former Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government had planned to shift at least five factories having risk-prone units, but the subsequent government did nothing in the matter,” Danve said, pointing an accusing finger at the ruling MahaYuti regime. The Thane Police have booked the owners of the factory, Malay Mehta and his wife Malati Mehta under various sections pertaining to negligence, culpable homicide, etc.