Mumbai: In a catastrophic incident that underscores the perils of industrial operations, a boiler explosion at a chemical unit in Dombivli MIDC Phase-2, located in Maharashtra’s Thane district, resulted in the deaths of eight individuals and injuries to 62 others.
The tragedy unfolded around 1.15 pm on Thursday at Amudan Chemicals Pvt Ltd, a facility surrounded by residential areas and slums. The reverberations of the blast were felt up to 5 kilometres away, with boiler debris landing 1.5 kilometres from the epicentre, causing additional damage to neighbouring factories, shops, and homes.
Firefighters are still engaged in cooling operations, and there are concerns that some individuals remain trapped within the premises. The explosion, which initiated a major fire, rapidly spread to adjacent establishments, including Sapthavarna Chemicals, Mehta Paints, KGN Chemicals, and a car showroom where 12 vehicles were destroyed. At the time of the incident, ten employees were handling hydrogen peroxide, a compound that, while not flammable itself, decomposes to release substantial amounts of oxygen, thereby intensifying the fire. The ensuing inferno sent thick plumes of smoke into the air, visible from significant distances, instilling panic among the local population.
Emergency response teams swiftly transported the injured to six private hospitals, with AIMS Hospital admitting 25 patients and Neptune Hospital admitting nine. Among those at AIMS Hospital, two individuals are reported to be in critical condition. This disaster highlights the urgent need for stringent safety protocols in industrial zones, particularly those housing chemical manufacturing units. The fact that the blast’s impact extended far beyond the factory premises, causing collateral damage to nearby residential and commercial properties, underscores the broader implications of industrial safety lapses. In the wake of the incident, local authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the explosion and assess compliance with safety regulations at the affected facility. This incident serves as a grim reminder of the inherent risks in chemical manufacturing and the critical importance of rigorous safety measures to prevent such tragedies.
As the community grapples with the aftermath, the focus now shifts to the injured and the families of the deceased. The incident has sparked widespread calls for enhanced safety measures and stricter enforcement of existing regulations to ensure such a calamity does not recur. This devastating event not only reflects the immediate human toll but also raises significant questions about industrial safety standards and regulatory oversight in India’s burgeoning chemical manufacturing sector.
