Two Industrial Blasts in Gujarat, Maharashtra Claim 14 Workers’ Lives in Two Days

At least two persons were killed and six others injured in an explosion at a chemical factory in Maharashtra's Raigad district on Thursday morning.

According to a report, a reactor broke down and exploded at around 2:30 am at a chemical company called Jashnova Pharma at Dheku in the Sajgaon industrial area of Khopoli town, located about 70 kms from Mumbai.

The massive blast resulted in damage to six neighbouring factories, with firefighters working to douse the flames for more than four hours.

A 32-year-old woman died in the blast while her three children and husband, who was working as a security guard at the neighbouring factory, survived severe injuries.

Khopoli police told PTI that the injured were taken to a civic-run hospital in Khopoli and were undergoing treatment.

The incident comes a day after a similar explosion in Gujarat resulted in a collapsed godown. Twelve workers were killed and ten others injured in Ahmedabad.

According to a report, the Ahmedabad police summoned the godown owner and his tenant on Thursday. The latter had kept the drums filled with chemicals which caused the blast. A police team with forensic experts also visited the spot to collect samples. The explosion destroyed three to four adjoining godowns where labourers were packing textiles and garments.

Deputy Commissioner of Police A.M. Muniya said an FIR will be registered after a thorough probe into the incident.

Twelve labourers, including five women, were killed and 10 others were injured after a portion of the godown located on Pirana-Piplaj road on the city's outskirts collapsed on Wednesday morning following a powerful explosion.

The primary investigation revealed that one Buta Bharwad owned the premises, which had several godowns separated by walls. He rented them out to several parties, a police official said.

A small portion of the godown was given on rent to one Hetal Sutariya, the owner of chemical trading firm Sahil Enterprises, he said.

“Sutariya had stored various hazardous chemicals, including hydrogen peroxide, in his rented godown. It is suspected that the explosion occurred when some mixing process was ongoing,” the official said.

“We have initiated a detailed probe into the incident and started preliminary questioning of Sutariya and Bharwad. The police will lodge an FIR after completion of the investigation,” he said.

On Wednesday, the Gujarat government announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs four lakh to the kin of each deceased.

However, family members of the victims did not agree with the compensation and have decided not to claim the bodies, currently kept at the civic-run V.S. Hospital in Ahmedabad.

“I lost my son in this explosion. He wanted to help the family financially. What will do with Rs four lakh? The government must give Rs 20 lakh as compensation and book those responsible for the tragedy,” a relative of one of the victims told reporters.

With Inputs from PTI