Massive fire breaks out at chemical factory in Navi Mumbai MIDC: 5 factories gutted, 3 injured
The fire engulfed 5 companies (Picture Courtesy: Nilesh Mahajan)
At least three persons were injured, and five companies gutted, in a massive fire that broke out at a chemical factory in Navi Mumbai’s Kopar Khairane MIDC area during the wee hours of Wednesday.
The fire is believed to have started around 2 am at Alma Specialty Chemicals, located on plot number 68/6 at TTC Industrial Area along the Thane-Belapur Road.
The blaze quickly spread to nearby companies, four of which – Vaishnavi, Nara Labs, Proton and Naik Environment – were also completely gutted in the fire. A heavy monetary loss, in excess of a few crores, is estimated due to the damage.
Additionally, three persons sustained burn injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Details about their present condition are awaited.
At its peak, the blaze was visible from a distance of few kilometers. People in the vicinity also reported hearing loud noises of explosions through the night.
“The fire broke out shortly after 2 am at Alma. We rushed the MIDC fire brigades to the spot first, and called fire engines from Vashi, Airoli, CBD Belapur and Panvel,” an MIDC fire officer told Hindustan Times.
“As the fire spread to other companies, fire engines from Mumbai and Thane were also called in, as well as from Reliance,” he added. Over 15 fire tenders were reportedly pressed into service to douse the flames.
By early morning, the blaze had razed all five establishments. Although the fire has been brought under control as of 9 am, cooling operations are underway and expected to last for a few hours.
An inspection of the premises to ascertain the cause of the fire will be undertaken once the area is fit for breathing. The exact extent of the damage will also be clear post that.
