Palghar, Maharashtra:
An explosion at a chemical plant at Tarapur MIDC in the town of Boisar in Maharashtra’s Palghar district on Wednesday killed at least three workers and injured 12 others, officials said.
The incident took place at 4:20 p.m. at the factory that produces gamma acid used in the textile industry, they said.
The intensity of the blast was such that the roof of the factory was lifted, officials said.
“As a result of the explosion in the reactor vessel of the chemical plant, three workers were killed and 12 others were injured. While the bodies of the victims were taken to a government hospital for post-mortem examination, the injured were taken to a nearby hospital.” That said Palghar police spokesman Sachin Navadkar.
When alerted, Boisar police station personnel and the local fire brigade rushed to the scene, he said.
A total of 18 workers were working at the factory when the explosion happened, chief inspector of Boisar police station, Pradeep Kasbe, said.
In the preliminary probe, the plant manager confirmed that the explosion occurred as a result of the pressure in the reactor vessel, he said.
“The plant produces gamma acid that is used in the textile industry. The reactor vessel exploded when the process was underway to mix sodium sulfate with ammonia,” he said.
Police will seek technical support from officials of the Industrial Safety and Health Directorate to investigate the incident, he said.
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