3 workers killed, 12 injured in chemical factory explosion in Maharashtra

At least three workers were killed and 12 others were injured in an explosion on Wednesday at a chemical factory located at Tarapur MIDC in Boisar town of Maharashtra's Palghar district. He said that the incident took place at 4:20 pm at a unit producing gamma acid used in the textile industry.

Officials said the explosion was so severe that the roof of the plant exploded. "Due to the explosion in the reactor vessel at the chemical factory, three workers were killed and 12 others were injured. The bodies of the victims were sent to a government hospital for post-mortem, while the injured were admitted to a nearby hospital." Palghar Police Spokesperson Sachin Nawadkar gave this information.

He said that on receiving the information, personnel of Boisar police station and local fire department reached the spot. A total of 18 workers were working in the factory at the time of the blast, said Pradeep Kasbe, senior inspector of Boisar police station. He said that in the preliminary investigation, the plant in-charge confirmed that the explosion was due to pressure in the reactor vessel.

"The plant produces gamma acid which is used in the textile industry. While the process of mixing sodium sulfate with ammonia was going on, the reactor vessel exploded," he said. He said that the police would seek technical cooperation from the officers of the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health to investigate the incident.