3 die after inhaling toxic gas in factory in Tarapur MIDC
None of the workers (at the factory) were equipped with any safety gear even though they were dealing in toxic gas. We do not know what type of gas the company was producing. JANARDHAN PARABKAR, police inspector, Boisar MIDC police station
PALGHAR: Three men died on Sunday after inhaling toxic gas following a suspected gas leak when they were filling solvents in a tank at a chemical factory in Tarapur MIDC area. Police said they would file a first information report (FIR) in the case after officials from the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH), Vasai, visit the site and submit a report.
The incident at the factory, which manufactures chemicals used in bulk drugs, took place around 4pm.
“The victims, Prabhakar Khadse, 57,supervisor, workers Raghunath Gorai, 50, and Dattatray Ghule, 24, were rushed to a private hospital, but were declared dead on arrival,” said police inspector (PI) Janardhan Parabkar of Boisar MIDC police station.
“None of the workers were equipped with any safety gear even though they were dealing in toxic gas,” said Parabkar.
“We do not know what type of gas the company was producing and we will intimate the DISH, Vasai. As of now, we have registered a case of accidental death and we will register an FIR (first information report) after the DISH submits us its report,” he said.
As it was a Sunday, no higher official was present at the company, except for Khadse, the supervisor, police said.
DK Raut, president, Tarapur Industrial Manufacturers’ Association (TIMA), said the company manufactures fine chemicals used in bulk drugs also as an active pharma ingredient.
He said the company that had owned the unit had recently sold it to another company. “I do not have the complete details right now, as Sunday is a weekly holiday, and the TIMA offices are closed,” said Raut.
Dinesh Ambore, assistant station officer, Boisar MIDC Fire Brigade, said, “We reached the spot within minutes after the incident, and took control of the situation.”
The fire brigade checked if there were any leakages from the tank. Fire brigade officials also cordoned off the area around the unit and took measures to check the spread of the toxic gas in the area. The unit has been shut.