The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Maharashtra): A court in Maharashtra’s Thane district has remanded two directors of a chemical company in police custody until May 31, following a deadly blast at their factory. The explosion, which occurred on May 23 at the Amudan Chemicals factory in Dombivli MIDC, resulted in ten fatalities and sixty injuries. The blast’s impact was so severe that it shattered window panes, damaged cars, roads, and electric poles in the surrounding area.
The directors, Malay Mehta and his wife Sneha Mehta, were presented before the Kalyan magistrate court by the police, who sought their custody for further investigation. The couple’s lawyer argued that a heatwave might have triggered chemical and chain reactions, causing the blast in a reactor. He described the incident as potentially being an “act of god” and expressed sympathies for the affected families.
After considering the arguments from both sides, the court decided to keep the Mehtas in police custody until May 31. Initially, only Malay Mehta was named in the FIR and arrested. Sneha Mehta was later summoned and arrested after detailed questioning revealed her involvement.
The police, investigating the incident, have also searched the Mehtas’ residence in Mumbai, collecting crucial documents for the ongoing probe. State Industries Minister Uday Samant announced the formation of a three-member high-level committee to investigate the incident, including principal secretaries from the Industries, Labour, and Environment departments. This committee is expected to submit its report within three weeks. Additionally, an expert team from New Delhi will conduct a separate probe to determine the exact cause of the blast, as efforts continue to locate any missing workers.
Residents have raised concerns about the safety of the Dombivli MIDC area, noting that rapid urbanization has brought new housing developments close to the industrial zone. This incident has intensified calls for relocating factories to safer locations, away from residential areas.