Camlin blast. | FPJ Image
Palghar, Maharashtra: Eleven factory workers were hospitalized following a gas leak incident at Camlin Fine Sciences Ltd. located in the Tarapur MIDC industrial area of Boisar early Sunday morning. The workers suffered from respiratory irritation and eye discomfort and are reported to be in stable condition at a private hospital in Boisar.
Preliminary reports indicate that the incident took place around 3:00 am when Dimethyl Sulphate (DMS), a hazardous chemical used in antioxidant manufacturing, was being transferred from Plant No. 4 to Plant No. 10 using a 500-litre receiver. Due to a delay in closing the isolation valve at the receiving end, approximately 10–15 kg of DMS leaked, releasing toxic fumes.
While night shift workers did not report immediate symptoms, several employees began experiencing eye irritation after returning home. Between 8:00 am and 8:30 am, during the morning shift changeover, the affected workers contacted the factory management, prompting swift action. They were recalled and taken to Vikas Netralaya in Boisar around 10:30 am for further medical care.
The affected workers have been identified as, Abubakar (30), Ketan Mhatre (45), Narendra Thakur (33), Abhishek Dev (28), Mangal Yadav (47), Sunil Patil (29), Manish Yadav (20), Jitendra Chaudhari (36), Manish Kumar (20), Ashish Deshmukh (31) and Vijay Pal (28).
The attending doctor confirmed that all workers are in stable condition and are expected to be discharged by Sunday evening.
Factory occupier Arjun Dukane and plant manager Dhaval Raut reported that immediate action was taken following the incident. The gas leak was promptly reported to Boisar Police and the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health. Assistant Director S.G. Sabban initiated a preliminary investigation around 1:00 pm the same day. They also met with the affected workers to assess the situation.
A detailed inquiry is underway to determine the precise cause of the leak and assess compliance with safety protocols. The incident has raised concerns about industrial safety measures in the Tarapur MIDC area, which houses numerous chemical processing units.
