5 killed, 140 hurt in blast at Thane industrial unit

The incident occurred around 11.30 am when cylinders exploded, triggering a blaze in the chemical manufacturing unit of Probace Enterprises at Shivaji Udyog Nagar of MIDC phase-II area in Dombivli (East).

Such was the intensity of the blast that window panes of adjoining buildings were shattered and people were seen running helter-skelter, an eye-witness said.

“The toll stood at five and the number of injured is 140,” said district disaster control officer Dinesh Kurhade. Meanwhile, clarifying the name of the company, the district publicity department stated in a release that the correct name of the firm is ‘Probace Enterprises’ and not ‘Herbert Brown 

Pharmaceutical and Research Laboratories’ (a unit of the Acharya Chemicals) as it had stated earlier.

Probace Enterprises mainly deals in hazardous chemicals.

Due to the explosion, the roof of some of the houses in the vicinity flew away, while some huts were damaged. The explosion has created a big crater at the site. Among the injured are those who were hit by flying glass shards.

District Collector Mahendra Kalyankar said a huge operation was underway for clearing the debris whereas the injured people were admitted in local hospitals. He said NDRF personnel were also involved in the rescue operation, along with fire brigade and police.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the blast site and also the hospital where some of the injured are admitted. “The state government will bear the expenses for their medical treatment,” he said, adding that an in-depth enquiry will be conducted into the incident.

He said, “This is a serious and major incident whose impact was felt in a long distance. The government would conduct a detailed inquiry”. Industries Minister Subash Desai said the chemical units in the belt would be kept shut for eight days from tomorrow. Thane Joint Police Commissioner Ashutosh Dumbre said rescue operations were still on.

The impact of the explosion was felt in an area of around five kilometres, in which many vehicles were damaged.

Over a dozen firefighters from Thane, Kalyan, Ambernath, Ulhasnagar, Badlapur and Navi Mumbai were rushed to the spot to extinguish the flames. 

Meanwhile, the identity of the deceased is still being established. Minister of state for Home, Ram Shinde said a thorough inquiry would be conducted into the incident.