One worker dies in fire inside leather factory near Mumbai

During cooling operations, fire officials in Vasai found the worker’s body, which has been charred

A worker was killed in a fire that broke out in a leather unit in Vasai early on Wednesday.

Fire personnel took around two hours to bring the blaze under control. (Jayraj Rajiwade)

The fire started inside Choudhary International Pvt Ltd’s leather unit, an old factory that has been around in Satoli, Vasai (east) for the past two decades, around 4.30am. The unit manufactures and exports pure leather footwear and other allied products. The firm’s head office is located in Andheri (east).

“We received a call around 4.30am.Fire personnel rushed to the spot, and it took them two hours to bring the blaze under control,” said Dilip Palav, chief fire officer, Vasai civic body. Five fire tenders and two 12,000-litre jumbo water tankers were used.

During cooling operations, fire officials found a body, which has been identified tentatively as that of a worker, Javed, 40. “The body was charred beyond recognition, so now we are sending it for DNA testing. He was sleeping inside the unit when the fire started,” Palav said. “Only the night security guard and the victim were present in the unit when the fire broke out, but as the guard was at his post outside the factory building, he did not get hurt.”

The factory operates only during the day, so there were no more casualties, Palav said.

The cause of the fire has not been established, Palav said, adding that the Vasai police are now investigating the incident.