Maharashtra factory blaze: Officer booked for ‘refusing’ to send fire engines

A major fire broke out after an explosion inside a boiler of a chemicals factory in the district on Thursday night.

A fire officer has been booked for allegedly refusing to send fire engines after getting a call about a blaze in a chemicals factory near Mumbai, police said on Saturday.

Eyewitnesses said the blasts, “sounding like a huge bomb”, happened when many were preparing to retire for the night. (HT Photo)

A major fire broke out after an explosion inside a boiler of a chemicals factory in the district on Thursday night, in which three people were killed and 15 others injured.

“We have booked the fire officer SS Borkar of Tarapore fire station following a complaint by district collector Prashant Narnawre,” said in-charge inspector Prakash Birajdar of Boisar police station.

Birajdar said the officer did not send fire engines to the spot even after requests were made by the police control room.

According to Birajdar, the fire officer reportedly told police and officials of the Disaster Control Cell that he cannot send fire engines without permission of his seniors.

Meanwhile, Palghar guardian minister Vishnu Sawra has ordered an inquiry into the incident and assured that the guilty will be punished.