Dombivli factory fire: Row over where blaze first started

The area near Abhinav school in Dombivli where the fire broke out on Wednesday morning. Pics/Shadab Khan

While the authorities have claimed that the blaze in the industrial area in Dombivli had its origins inside a factory due to a short circuit, its owner told mid-day that a chemical unit was to blame for the fire. Namdeo Chaudhari, chief fire officer of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation, said the matter will be investigated. This has been the third such occurrence in the area since 2016.

Four vehicles were damaged in the blaze, according to the Kalyan-Dombivli civic body

"The fire started at around 10 am at the Malde Capacitor, a factory. There was a short circuit there, and it spread very quickly to Indo Amines. About 12 fire control vehicles had to be deployed. There were no casualties reported," said Namdeo Chaudhari, chief fire officer of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation. Initial reports suggested the fire started at Indo Amines, a chemical manufacturing company.

"When we had reached the spot, workers were telling us the fire started at Indo Ammines and then one Malde worker told us that there was a short circuit at their factory. We still cannot confirm this as the current conclusion is based on verbal account and further investigation will be needed," Chaudhari said.

Shantilal Karane, owner of Malde Capacitor, has been insisting that the fire did not start at his factory. "You know how this country works. Earlier, the media was saying the fire started at Indo Amines, and now fire officials are saying it started in my factory. I have had this factory since the 1990s, and nothing like this has happened before," he said. He added, "Chemical factories are known for such blasts here. They are not reported from factories like ours. Now, suddenly KDMC is blaming us."

Fire fighters at the site of blaze in Dombivli. Pic/Shadab Khan

Soon after the fire erupted, blasts were heard in the area. According to the fire chief, the source of these blasts was the LPG cylinders kept on Malde's premises. He added, "As the fire spread to Indo Amines, the chemicals stored there seeped into the gutters, further spreading the fire to the four parked vehicles."

Workers worried

About 17 workers at Malde Capacitor escaped just in the nick of time. "We saw smoke emanating, and everyone started running out. This is the third blast in the area. Many of us are now thinking of searching for some other job," said Durga Thapa, who has been working at the factory for the past seven years.

Ranjeet Prajapati, another long-time Malde employee, said, "It started from the rear of the factory. Anything could have happened to me. I want to rush back home to my village in UP. Many others want to leave, but we can't because our bread and butter is here."

mid-day reached out to MIDC for a comment. However, Chief Executive Officer Dr Vipin Sharma was not in the country, while Joint Chief Executive Officer (Admin) Anil Bhandari and Deputy Chief Executive Officer Jitendra Kakuste couldn't respond as they were in a meeting.