Three days on, toll in Dombivli factory explosion climbs to 12

DOMBIVLI: The Probace Enterprise death toll has risen to 12. More than 48 hours after the explosion at the chemicals company at Dombivli MIDC, rescue workers say

DOMBIVLI: The Probace Enterprise death toll has risen to 12. More than 48 hours after the explosion at the chemicals company at Dombivli MIDC, rescue workers say there may be more bodies under the debris.

HT Image

“We are being careful in clearing the debris as there might be bodies below it. We are investigating the cause of the fire and we have kept two fire brigade vehicles on the spot for any emergency. Rescue operations are going on and police officers and civic authorities are there to look after the operations,” an officer from the fire brigade said.

Around 10.45am on Saturday, smoke was seen coming through a chemical can when a JCB was clearing debris. “As soon as we saw smoke, police officers along with the JCB driver and few others who were helping clear the area ran away from the spot. When the smoke subsided, we resumed work,” says a police officer from Thane commissionerate.

Police officers along with constables in civil and uniform clothes have been posted near buildings which have been vacated, as there are chances of robbery. We are also patrolling the area too, the police officer added.

Meanwhile, the Thane antinarcotics cell are helping the police in detecting the chemical which may have led to the explosion.