At least eighteen employees of a chemical factory in Maharashtra’s Pune have died and several are missing as a massive fire broke out in the sanitiser-manufacturing unit of the firm on Monday.
Some 37 workers were trapped inside the building when the blaze started around 15:45 on Monday.
Fire engines rushed to the spot as smoke billowed from the compound – firemen had to break walls on either side to rescue people.
The factory belonged to SV Aqua Technologies, a company that makes chlorine dioxide products, which is typically used in water treatment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the death of the workers, and announced 200,000 rupees as compensation for their families.
The government of Maharashtra, where the factory is located, also announced $6,800 as compensation to the victims ‘families.
The fire started during packing of plastic materials in the premises, the fire department said.
“Due to some spark at the (packaging) section, the fire broke out and as there was plastic around, so it spread rapidly,” an official told PTI.
The fire is now under control and search for the missing workers is underway, officials said.
