Thane factory blast toll 11; 3 from owner's family among dead

The death toll in the massive explosion at an industrial unit in Dombivli township of Thane district today rose to 11, with three members of the owner's family being among the dead, officials said this evening.
As many as 47 injured people (of the total 201) were undergoing treatment at various hospitals. Rest were discharged.
Police PRO inspector Sukhada Narkar released a list of the nine deceased persons, while two others are yet to be identified.
The deceased include Sumeet Vakatkar (30), his wife Snehal Sumeet Vakatkar (28) and his brother Nandan Vakatkar (33). Sumeet and Nandan are the sons of the owner and the CEO of Probace Enterprises, Dr Vishwas V Vakatkar.

Police also registered a case against the company management for not taking proper safety measures, said Narkar.
The blast occurred at about 11.30 am yesterday when cylinders exploded triggering a blaze in the chemical manufacturing unit of Probace Enterprises at Shivaji Udyog Nagar of MIDC phase-II area in Dombivli (East).

"The offence (registered at Manpada station) stated the company management did not take proper care and safety measures in the factory's distillation plant that resulted in the incident and death and injury to the humans," Narkar said.
Though nobody has been named in the case, the management has been booked under sections 304(2)(culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC, the officer said.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is assisting in the removal of the debris.