Shocked families search for missing kin following Dombivli chemical factory blast

Grief and anger fill Shastri Nagar Hospital as families search for missing loved ones after chemical blast.

The atmosphere outside the Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli, where victims have been admitted following the blast at Amudan Chemical Private Limited on May 23, was filled with grief and anger on Friday as families searched for their kin, who worked at the factories located in the same area. 

Each family arrived at the hospital after visiting several other hospitals where the injured were rushed for treatment, and the police station. Manish Kumar Das (22), an employee of Cosmos Company, has been missing, and his family was unable to find him. “I have been looking for him since morning and visited at least five hospitals, and now filed a missing complaint. He had just started working with the company a month ago; a contractor hired him, but now the contractor denied his hiring and is not helping us,” said Soni Gautam, Mr. Das’s sister.  

The Thane Crime Branch police apprehended the owners of Amudan Chemical Private Limited — Malti Pradeep Mehta, Malay Pradeep Mehta, and others in connection with the blast. Charges include Sections 304A (culpable homicide) and Sections concerning explosive substances and hazardous chemicals of the Indian Penal Code. Five dedicated teams have been assigned to track them down. Deputy Commissioner of Police Parag Manere stated, “both individuals are questioned, and if their involvement is confirmed, they will be arrested.” 

Malati Pradeep Mehta, a director of Amudan Chemicals Private Limited, was detained by the Nashik police following information provided by the Thane police, whereas Malay Mehta was detained in Thane.  

Archana Shinde has been searching for her brother-in-law Vishal Porwal (39) for five hours. “He worked here, but we had no idea he had fallen victim to the blast. We searched for him last night, went to his cabin in the factory after the incident, where he was last seen. It was too hot and smelly. Thereafter, we filed a missing complaint with the police at 1.15 a.m. They suggested going to Shastri hospital, but the officials at the hospital told us to come back tomorrow as due to burns, all the deceased bodies were unidentifiable and required DNA tests.”  

Mr. Porwal, a resident of Badlapur, started working with Cosmos Company six months ago. “Before the blast, he spoke to my father, and thereafter we couldn’t connect with him. His seven-year-old son keeps asking whether he has sustained minor injuries or major ones,” added Ms. Shinde.  

According to sources, out of the 14 injured workers from Cosmos Company, three are in critical condition and one died.