Thane: Four dead, 56 injured after fire breaks out at chemicals factory following boiler blast

Image Source : ANI Fire at factory located in the MIDC area in Dombivli

A major fire broke out at a chemicals factory following a boiler blast at Dombivli in Thane district of Maharashtra on Thursday leaving four people dead and 56 injured. According to the officials, the explosion occurred in the boiler of Amber Chemical Company located in Phase 2 of the Dombivli MIDC area.

A reactor exploded at Amudan Chemical Company located in Phase 2 of Dombivli MIDC area around 1.40 pm, they said. The four bodies recovered so far from the site were charred beyond recognition, said Kalyan tehsildar Sachin Shejal. The impact of the explosion and resultant fire affected at least five companies in the area, he said.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced that the government will bear the expenses of the treatment of the injured persons, Samant told reporters. Shinde has also directed that the victims should be paid compensation within a week, he said.

The blast was so loud that it was heard a kilometre away, an eyewitness said. Glass windows of adjoining buildings cracked while many houses in the vicinity were damaged, officials said. The blast was so loud that it could be heard a kilometre away, said the locals.

Glass windows of the adjoining buildings suffered cracks as a result of the blast, he added.

Fire and police personnel have reached the spot, the official said, adding efforts are on to bring the blaze under control.

(With PTI inputs)