Less than three weeks after a massive explosion-cum-fire claimed 13 lives and left 60 others in a chemical factory at Dombivli in the neighbouring Thane district, a massive fire broke out on Wednesday in another factory located near an industrial unit where an earlier mishap had taken place. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported from the mishap site.

The fire broke out at around 10 am in the factory of Amines Ltd, which manufactures several chemicals, at the State-run Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) complex, Phase II, at Dombivli.  The cause of the mishap has not been established as yet.

“The fire broke out at around 10 am. In addition to the fire, there was also one explosion in the chemical factory,” chief of the Disaster Management Cell of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) Dipak Nikam said.

However, eyewitnesses said that there were two explosions after the fire enveloped the chemical factory. Before long, thick clouds of black began emanating from the mishap-hit factory.   The fire brigade personnel from the KDMC, who rushed to the mishap site shortly after the fire, doused the blaze. There were no injuries or casualties in the mishap.

M/s Indo Amines Ltd, where the fire broke out on Wednesday, is located some 300 metres away from  M/s Amudan Chemicals Pvt Ltd where 13 persons were killed and 60 others injured in multiple explosions and consequent fire on May 23.

Shockingly enough, the Phase II of the state-run MIDC where there have been several mishaps over the years, is located in a residential area.

Following the May 23 disaster, chief minister Eknath Shinde had said that the hazardous chemical units in the Dombivli MIDC area would be shifted to a new industrial area to be set up at the nearby Ambernath in Thane district.