Thane (Maharashtra): At least five workers were killed and around 125 others injured when in a massive blast when a boiler at a private chemical company in the MIDC industrial complex here on Thursday morning, police said.
The blast in Probace Enterprises around 11 a.m. caused a devastating fire at the factory, located in the Phase II of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) complex, on the outskirts of the Dombivali city, said an official of the Manpada police.
The fire was quickly brought under control and as smoke dissipated, it revealed the entire factory building had collapsed. The huge blast and blaze also caused huge damage to two other adjacent plants – belonging to the Herbert Brown Pharma & Research and Acharya Group.
An eyewitness said that the intensity of the blast was so much that window panes in several adjoining buildings were shattered and people were seen running helter-skelter.
More than a dozen fire tenders were at the site to douse the flames, Kurhade said.
Chaos prevailed in vicinity of the industrial unit where the blast occurred.
The injured workers were rushed to various hospitals.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed anguish over the tragedy and assured for relief and rehabilitation measures for the victims. He also visited the injured undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the evening.
The district authorities have ordered a probe into the blast’s cause and will carry out a safety review of all the 900-odd industrial units located in the sprawling MIDC area in Dombivali.