Tragedy struck on Saturday as an explosion at the Century Rayon factory in Maharashtra’s Shahad, located approximately 50 kilometers from Mumbai, resulted in the loss of two lives and left six individuals injured. Two more persons are still missing following the incident.
The incident occurred around noon when nitrogen gas containers were being brought to the factory premises for the purpose of filling them with CS2 (carbon disulfide). Preliminary investigations suggest that an inadequate procedure might have been followed, leading to the explosion.
Zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police Sudhakar Pathare stated, “It appears proper procedure has not been followed due to which the explosion took place.”
The deceased have been identified as Shailesh Yadav and Rajesh Shrivastav, while the injured are Sagar Zalte, Amit Bharnuke, Pandit More, Prakash Nikam, Hansraj Saroj, and Mohamed Arman. Efforts are ongoing to locate the missing individuals, Pawan Yadav and Anant Dingore.
A police officer confirmed, “The injured have been admitted to Century Hospital and Fortis Hospital.”
Century Rayon issued a statement regarding the incident, expressing deep regret. The statement read, “We deeply regret to inform that a tanker from a third party, bearing registration No. MH 04 GC 2487, arrived at our plant site on September 23, 2023, at about 11:15 am, and got ruptured during inspection before filling.”
In response to the incident, local authorities, including the police and fire brigade, swiftly mobilized rescue operations.
Pathare announced that the Directorate of Industrial Security will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the causes of the incident and whether all necessary safety measures were in place. The police have registered a case of accidental death report and may file an FIR based on findings regarding negligence.
As the explosion occurred, other workers on the site and nearby residents fled for safety, adding to the chaos.
Century Rayon, a prominent player in the viscose filament yarn industry in India, operates under the management of Grasim Industries Limited, a part of the Aditya Birla Group, with Kumar Mangalam Birla serving as its chairman.
The company also stated, “We are working closely with relevant authorities on the ground and have initiated an internal investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident. Suitable compensations and job assurance to dependents of the deceased are being planned. Further investigations are ongoing.”
News Summary:
- Two fatalities and six injuries result from an explosion at Century Rayon factory in Maharashtra.
- Nitrogen gas containers ruptured during CS2 inspection, raising questions about safety protocols.
- Missing persons, Pawan Yadav and Anant Dingore, remain unaccounted for.
- Investigations initiated by law enforcement and industrial security authorities.
- Century Rayon, part of the Aditya Birla Group, expresses regret and plans compensation for victims’ families.