Dombivli blast due to fire in stored chemical: RTI

It has been almost two months but there is no official report on the reason behind the chemical factory blast in Dombivli. However, according to a reply to an RTI query, it has come to light that the blast took place because of huge stocks of Popargyl chloride that caught fire due to welding sparks.

On May 26, a blast in Dombivli MIDC's Probase company killed four and injured 161 people. It was speculated at that time that the blast took place due to chemical reaction in the broiler and an inquiry committee was appointed by Thane district collector Dr Mahendra Kalyankar to find out the reason.

Though their inquiry panel report is not out yet, a reply to an RTI application filed by Raju Nalawade, an active resident from Dombivli, revealed that it was due to Propargyl chloride.

The RTI reply from the state industrial safety and health department states that the blast took place as welding work was on near the distillation centre of the company. "A stock of two to three tonnes of Propargyl chloride was also lying nearby. When the welding sparks flew into the stock, the chemical caught fire and there was a blast," sated the reply.

"Propargyl is a highly inflammable chemical. How could they allow it to be stocked in such a small company which had other chemical companies around," Nalawade questioned.