Thane blast: Toll reaches 10, factory owners booked for culpable homicide

The toll in the boiler blast in a chemicals factory here rose to 10 on Friday including three relations of the owners even as charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder were slapped on them, a police official said.

While Vishwas Wakatkar, a family member of the owners of the Probace Enterprises, was injured and is recovering in a hospital, bodies of three other relatives - Nandu Wakatkar, Sumit Wakatkar and Sneha Wakatkar - were recovered from the debris.

More than 150 other injured are undergoing treatment in various hospitals for which the state government will foot the bills.

A probe has been ordered to ascertain whether the company had followed or violated norms of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) in whose area the factory is located.

Meanwhile, the Thane police slapped charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the owners of Probace Enterprises, Dombivali, a police official said.

"We have sought help from the factory inspector and other departments to determine the exact cause of the blast and fire," said an official of Manpada Police, which is probing the case under the direction Joint Police Commissioner Ashutosh Dumbre.

Police have registered a case against the owners of the factory in Dombivali city here under Indian Penal Code's section 304A (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) which attracts upto 10 years jail term and a fine.

On Thursday, Dombivali, around 35 km north of Mumbai, was shaken to its foundation when a deafening blast occurred in a boiler in the Probace chemical factory.

The impact of the blast followed by a massive fire resulted in massive damage to two neighbouring factories in the MIDC complex here.

While ten people died in the blast and its after-effects, more than 150 people suffered different types of injuries.

One man died due to heart attack soon after the blast, the sound of which was heard 4-5 km away.

The explosion impact saw damage to more than 600 homes, offices, shops, etc. in a two-km vicinity.

In some homes, locked doors flew off hinges, all glass items, fittings, TV sets, crockery, vehicle glasses and even spectacles worn by people were blown to sharp shreds.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who visited the city has ordered a probe into the tragedy.

Industry Minister Subhash Desai ordered a weeklong shutdown of all chemical factories in and around the city to facilitate a thorough safety and security audit.

Meanwhile since last night, police and district officials started a survey of all the homes, shops, commercial complexes, vehicles amd other public and private assets which were hit by the blast.

--IANS

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