Dombivli chemical company blast: Police searches owner’s house, takes him to blast site

Thane police crime branch officials said that they took Mehta to his Ghatkopar residence and searched the house, recovering important company documents.

Senior inspector Ashok Koli from the crime branch officials said, “We are in contact with the officials from the probe team of Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health, Maharashtra state. This team with expert officials are working on finding out the cause of the blast.”
“We are also in the process of writing to the concerned government department to find out how much chemical Amudan Chemicals was permitted to use and store at the said facility,” Koli added.

After searching his flat, the investigation team also took Mehta to the incident site to better understand the structure and operations of the ill-fated company site. The police are also obtaining details of the company’s history since its foundation.

Since, it’s been claimed that one of the factors responsible for the reactor blast could be the high temperature, the police would also be taking details of May 23 (Thursday’s) temperature from the concerned department and would also consult if such temperature could cause a blast, another police officer said.

Meanwhile, rescue operations continued at the site as many workers are still reported missing. However, no bodies could be located on Sunday.

On Thursday at around 1.30 pm a massive blast occurred at the Amudan Chemicals company site. Due to other chemical companies surrounding it, 2-3 more subsequent blasts followed. The explosion was heard in a radius of two kilometres and the window panes of nearby houses in a 500-metre radius were shattered on impact. Nearly eight factories surrounding Amudan Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. were badly damaged.

Mehta has been charged under Sections 34 (common intention), 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by using dangerous weapons or means), 285 (negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), 286 (negligent conduct involving explosive substances), 427 (mischief) of the IPC, relevant sections of the Explosive Act 1884, Explosive Substances Act and Section 4 of Damage to Public Property Act.

Mehta is in police custody till May 29. The police are also in process of identifying people who were witnesses to the incident.