One dead, four injured in explosion at chemical factory in Thane district

An employee was killed and four others injured after a series of explosions at a chemical manufacturing company in Maharashtra’s Thane district on Thursday led to a fire, an official said.

He said that the injured workers have been admitted to the local hospital.

Yasin Tadvi, head of the disaster management cell of Thane Municipal Corporation, said the incident occurred at around 4.30 am in an industrial area.

According to Bhagwat Sonawane, chief fire officer of Kulgaon-Badlapur Fire Services, the factory is located in Kharwai MIDC area.

He said that there were a series of powerful explosions in the unit which also caused a fire.

Drums filled with some chemicals exploded, spilling the contents on tempos and vehicles parked outside, resulting in the vehicles catching fire, he said.

He said that one employee died and four others were injured in the incident. The injured are being treated in the local hospital.

Four fire tenders from Ambernath, Badlapur and Ulhasnagar were sent to the spot.

Sonawane said the fire, which spread to two nearby units, was brought under control after about two hours.

He said that the explosions were so loud that they could be heard up to a distance of one kilometer.

He said the deceased employee has not yet been identified and the cause of the blasts is still unknown.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)