A boiler explosion at a chemical factory in Dombivli near Mumbai led to a massive fire. Seven people died in the blast, while more than 30 people were rescued. At least 10 fire tenders were rushed to the spot to battle the blaze. The blast shattered the windows of nearby buildings.

A fire broke out on Thursday due to a boiler explosion at a factory located in the Dombivli MIDC area.

Dombivli boiler blast: At least seven people were reportedly killed and 48 injured when a boiler exploded at a chemical factory in the MIDC area in Dombivli near Mumbai on Thursday. A massive fire broke out after the blast at the factory, located in the Thane district of Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told ANI that six people had died in the incident. “Six people have been killed and 48 injured in the fire that broke out in Dombivli, near Mumbai. NDRF, SDRF and TDRF teams are working together to control the fire and efforts are being made to prevent the fire from spreading further,” Fadnavis said.

The explosion occurred at Amber Chemical Company in Phase 2 of the Dombivli MIDC area, according to a civic official.

Civil Defence Officer Bimal Nathwani said, “This incident took place at around 1.30 pm… 1.5 km away, the building in which I was present shook… I came to know that a blast had occurred… We have recovered 7 dead bodies… The vibration of the blast was experienced in an approximate radius of 5 km

The blast was so loud that it could be heard from a kilometre away. An eyewitness said the glass windows of an adjoining building suffered cracks, and many houses in the vicinity were damaged by the explosion.

The injured workers have been rushed to a local hospital, the official added.

Yasin Tadvi, chief of the Disaster Management Cell of the Thane civic body, said the explosion ripped through the chemicals factory at around 1.40 pm.

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, he said.

Earlier, taking to microblogging site X, Fadnavis said, “The incident of boiler explosion at Amudan Chemical Company in Dombivli MIDC is tragic. 8 people have been suspended.

“Arrangements have been made to treat the injured and more ambulances have been kept ready. I have discussed with the Collector and he is also reaching the spot within 10 minutes. Teams of NDRF, TDRF, fire brigade have been called,” Fadnavis said about the Dombivli accident.

Teams from Thane civic body’s Regional Disaster Management Cell and 13 jawans from the Thane Disaster Response Force have also reached the site of the accident, Yasin Tadvi said, adding that efforts are on to bring the blaze under control.