Dombivli factory blast: Families demand action as blast brings back painful memories

The Pote family awaits more details on the condition of their patient

The blast at Amudan Chemicals Pvt Ltd in Dombivli East at around 1.30 pm on Thursday left seven dead and over 30 injured. Most of the injured were rushed to the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), where families and even doctors recalled the memories of another blast that happened in the area in 2016. Sindhu Pote's 33-year-old son, Rahul, is in the ICU at the AIMS. He works as an accountant in one of the companies near the blast site.

"The tin roof and the rod attached to it in his office fell on his head. He is severely injured but stable. We had his scan done; doctors told us he is under observation. There was another blast in Dombivli in 2016, and now this again. How many lives will be lost before the government takes strict action?" the mother said.

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Minister of Industries Uday Samant visits AIMS to check on patients

On the same day, Maharashtra's Minister of Industries, Uday Samant, and MP Shrikant Shinde visited the hospital to check on the condition of those admitted. "A tragic incident occurred due to a boiler explosion at Dombivli MIDC. The injured individuals have been admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment. I visited the injured patients to inquire about their condition. After comforting them, I assured them that the government will cover the expenses for their treatment," said Samant.

However, some relatives of the patients, like the Pote family, only saw the minister come in and leave. "We understand, there are many patients admitted," Sindhu Pote said. Twenty-seven-year-old Reena Kanojia, another accountant who worked in a food colour company near the blast site, has not been able to speak since the incident.

"The blast led to the glass in her office shattering. The shards cut her throat. Four years ago, there was another blast in this area. Who can stop these things from happening? We only want her to get out of the hospital soon," said Surendra Kanojia, Reena's father. Kuldeep Lavela, who has worked at a company beside Amudan for the last seven years, has been waiting outside the ICU for an update on his colleague's condition. Tejas Gavit, 23, suffered injuries on his lips and head. "His condition is not as bad, but doctors said they will let us know. He was injured after the glass in our office broke. It is a big compound, and the rest of us had stepped out of the office," he said. Lavela alleged that the company was asked to stop work a few months ago due to irregularities and was functioning with the shutter pulled down. Meanwhile, Dr Tanuja Gaikwad, the operation head at AIMS, told mid-day that there are 26 people admitted at her hospital. "About four are critical; one other patient has his knee bone out. The rest all have injuries but are stable."

The reception area at the hospital is packed with relatives of the blast victims

Many of the hospital employees as well as local residents participated in the blood donation camp set up on its premises for the victims of the blast. The 2016 blast at Herbert Brown Pharmaceutical & Research Laboratories had killed three workers with at least 35 others injured. "I was also here when the blast happened in 2016. It is very unfortunate, and such things need to stop. We are trying our best and hope all the patients recover," Dr Gaikwad said. In all, 26 are admitted at AIMS, there are five admitted at Aurindam Hospital, nine are in Neptune hospital, and three are in Gajanan Hospital.