Maharashtra: One killed, four injured in blasts at chemical factory in Thane district

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One worker was killed and four others were injured after a series of explosions, which also triggered a fire, at a chemical factory in Thane district on Thursday, an official said, reported news agency PTI.

The injured workers of the chemical factory in Thane district have been admitted to a local hospital, he said, reported PTI.

The incident occurred around 4.30 am in an industrial pocket, said Yasin Tadvi, chief of the Disaster Management cell of the Thane Municipal Corporation, reported PTI.

According to Bhagwat Sonawane, chief fire officer at the Kulgaon-Badlapur Fire Services, the chemical factory is located in the Kharvai MIDC area, reported PTI.

He said there were a series of loud explosions at the unit which also triggered a fire, reported PTI.

Drums filled with some chemicals exploded, causing the contents to spill onto tempos and vehicles parked outside, resulting in the vehicles catching fire, he said, reported PTI.

Four fire engines from Ambernath, Badlapur and Ulhasnagar were rushed to the spot. The fire, which had spread to two adjoining units, was brought under control after about two hours, said Sonawane, reported PTI.

The explosions were so loud that they could be heard from a distance of one kilometre, he said, reported PTI.

The dead worker is yet to be identified, he said, adding that the cause of the explosions is still to be determined, reported PTI.

In another incident, a fire damaged a four-wheeler and a two-wheeler on the premises of a Thane residential building in the early hours of Wednesday, an official said, reported PTI.

No one was injured in the fire at Thane residential building that started around 4.40 am on the ground floor of the building in Shrirang Society, said the official, reported PTI.

Local firefighters extinguished the fire by around 5.15 am, said Yasin Tadvi, chief of the Disaster Management Cell of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), reported PTI.

The fire damaged a four-wheeler and a bike belonging to one Vijay Palye, he said, adding that its cause is yet to be determined, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, a fire reduced a paan stall to ashes on Mumbra bypass road around 11 pm on Tuesday, the official said. An investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the fire, he said, adding that there were no injuries, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)