Navi Mumbai’s Taloja MIDC Faces Major Fire at Chemspec Chemicals Unit
Navi Mumbai, 30th December 2023: A significant fire broke out at a chemical manufacturing unit situated in the C-Block of Taloja MIDC in Navi Mumbai around 7 pm on Thursday, raising concerns and prompting a swift response from the firefighting teams.
Ten fire engines from various agencies, including MIDC, Cidco, and Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PCMC), rushed to the scene to tackle the flames at Chemspec Chemicals. Firefighters worked tirelessly for hours to bring the situation under control, facing challenges posed by the thick smoke emanating from the factory.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported in the incident, and the prompt response allowed the safe evacuation of factory personnel. The precise extent of damage to materials is yet to be determined, but Manish Sawant, the MIDC fire officer, estimated the chemical damage to be worth a few crores.
The suspected cause of the fire is a short circuit, quickly identified by alert workers who raised the alarm. The early response and evacuation efforts were acknowledged by officers from the Taloja MIDC police station.
Despite the emergency response team rushing to the site, they faced challenges due to a large gathering of residents, complicating their efforts. The intensity of the fire, fueled by a substantial quantity of chemicals, required several hours of concerted struggle before the fire personnel successfully brought it under control, as explained by a police officer on the scene.
A resident highlighted a historical context to the incident, noting that a similar fire had occurred at the same plant in 2013. The repetition of such incidents raises concerns about safety protocols and the need for thorough investigations to prevent future occurrences.
