At least 13 killed, 58 injured in Maharashtra chemical factory explosion

At least 100 workers were present in the factory in Waghadi village in Shirpur taluka when the explosion occurred around 9:45 a.m.

Thirteen workers, including six women, were killed and 64 others injured in explosions of nitrogen gas cylinders at a chemical factory in North Maharashtra’s Dhule district on Saturday morning, police said.
 

Preliminary probe revealed that a chemical leak caused a fire which led to serial explosions at the factory of Rumit Chemsynth, located at Waghadi village in Shirpur tehsil, at around 9.45 am, a senior police officer told PTI.
 

By evening, the fire had been doused, and search was on for more bodies, if any, in the debris, he said.

“At least 100 workers were present in the factory at the time of the incident,” the officer added.
 

Teams of fire brigade, police, and the State Disaster Response Force conducted the relief and rescue operations.

The deafening sound of explosions caused panic in the vicinity, prompting people to rush out of houses.
 

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the deaths, and announced Rs 500,000 compensation to the kin of the deceased.
 

“(District) Guardian Minister, Collector, sp (Superintendent of Police) on spot. SDRF team reached....CM Devendra Fadnavis also announced Rs 5 lakh to the kin of deceased,” the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) tweeted. Rumit Chemsynth manufactures chemicals used in the pharmaceutical industry.