5 killed in Dombivali factory blast

At least five people have died and 159 injured in the fire incident in Dombivali MIDC near Kalyan in Thane district of Maharashtra. The explosion took place at 11.30 AM in the chemical factory of Probace Enterprises yesterday. 

The blast was so strong that the window panes were broken of the houses in the radius of 3 to 4 kilometres from the sight and many people who were hit by the broken pieces of the glass were injured. 

After the blast, other companies adjacent to the manufacturing unit of Probace were totally destroyed as the whole building collapsed. But fire fighters managed to control the fire after carefully removing the chemicals from the area and also evacuating the people who were residing in the nearby area. 

Three people had died on the spot while 129 people were injured and 9 of them reported to be in critical condition. All injured



are undergoing treatment in nearest hospitals. According to police, the exact number of casualties can be ascertained only after removing debris.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the spot in the evening and announced compensation to the kin of the deceased and to those injured. Meanwhile guardian minister Eknath Shinde has announced to create a buffer zone between the factories and residential areas. He also said that a detailed inquiry will be done of the incidence and strict action will be taken against those responsible for it. 

Maharashtra's Industry Minister Subhash Desai has also announced to shift companies manufacturing hazardous chemicals from this area.

In the last two decades, Dombivali residents have demanded that chemical units be moved out of the city following a series of chemical and gas leaks and explosions in the MIDC area.