18 killed in Pune sanitizer fire: Most of the dead are women

Some workers were evacuated by breaking the wall from JCB: Police started questioning the owner of the company

The families of the deceased were given Rs. Five lakh assistance

MUMBAI: At least 18 people were killed in a blaze at a chemical company in Pune today. The dead are said to include 15 women. There is talk that the fire spread quickly as sanitizers were being made here.

The fire brigade was able to contain the blaze after hours of struggle. It is alleged that the company did not provide adequate security. Police have arrested the owner of the company and are conducting further investigations.

The exact cause of the fire could not be ascertained in the preliminary investigation. Corona is a cause for concern in the entire country, including Maharashtra. Sanitizers are used to protect against corona. At that time, questions have also been raised about the security system in case of fire in the company that makes sanitizers.

It is to be noted that many patients admitted for treatment of corona which had earlier caught fire at various places in Maharashtra have been pushed to the brink of death. A fire broke out at a company in Pirangut, MADC area in Pune-based Mulshi taluka this afternoon. The company is said to have 37 workers at the time. There was also a huge explosion when the fire broke out. Which caused panic among the people around.

The fire spread rapidly due to the flammable chemical and the workers could not get out of the company. The locals rushed for help. Firefighters and police rushed to the scene and put out the blaze. With the help of JCB, some workers were evacuated by breaking the wall.

The company was mostly attended by women workers. Eighteen bodies were found after the fire was brought under control. It is said to have 15 women. The death toll could rise in the near future. Workers were having difficulty identifying the severely burnt corpse.

It was investigated whether there were any workers inside the company. The police had taken the owner of the company under control and initiated necessary action. The company was producing chlorine dioxide, said Deshmukh, a police superintendent and superintendent of Pune Grameen.