At least nine people were killed and over dozens others got injured in a massive boiler blast that rocked a factory in the Dombivli area of Maharashtra's Thane on Thursday afternoon, trapping several people inside.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed the loss of lives in the blast that took place at the Amber Chemical Company located in Phase 2 of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area in Thane's Domibivli on Thursday.
Visuals of the blast surfaced on social media, with users calling it a "high-intensity" explosion that took place in a factory located in the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area in Dombivli.
Several fire tenders were rushed to the site.
"High intensity blast in Dombivili now. Video taken from my home. Seem to be a factory," a user on social media wrote.
Reports said several people were evacuated from nearby areas, adding that the fire broke out due to a boiler explosion in the factory in the MIDC area of Dombivli.
Yasin Tadvi said the blaze triggered by the blast spread to three adjoining factories and thick plumes of smoke and fire could be seen from a long distance.
Witnesses reported hearing three blasts at the factory, reports said.
The blast was so loud that it could be heard from a kilometre away, a witness told news agency PTI. Glass windows of an adjoining building suffered cracks, while many houses in the vicinity were damaged due to the explosion, the witness added.
The injured workers were rushed to a local hospital, a civic official said.
Terming the incident tragic, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in a post on X, "Arrangements have been made to treat the injured and more ambulances have been kept ready. I have discussed with the Thane collector and they are also reaching the spot... Teams of NDRF, TDRF, and fire brigade have been called.”
“I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he added.
A brigade call was given following which eight fire engines were rushed to the spot, said Tadvi.
Teams from Thane civic body’s Regional Disaster Management Cell and 13 jawans from the Thane Disaster Response Force also reached the scene, the official said, adding efforts were on to bring the blaze under control.
