Pune: Eight sustain burn injuries in fire at scrap-processing unit

Inspector Shivaji Gaware of Bhosari MIDC police station said, “The unit processes industrial scrap. The accident took place when some people were cleaning the used oil and chemical barrels by putting them in hot water. The water was being heated over a furnace. Primary investigation suggests that a sudden fire started when residual oil or chemicals from the barrels that were cleaned came in contact with the flame of the furnace. Some people present nearby sustained burn injuries.”

An official from Pimpri Chinchwad Fire Brigade said, “We did not receive any calls from people from the unit. But one of our firefighters, Vikas Naik, was passing by the area and heard a loud explosion. He went inside the unit to check and found that people had sustained burns. He then called the control room and we sent fire tenders and rescue vans. The scrap material had caught fire. It was brought under control. The injured were taken to a nearby private hospital. As many as eight persons had sustained burns. Three of them have more than 20 per cent burns. The burn injuries of others are less serious. Our teams found that all the workers, who work at the unit have their homes in the same building where the accident took place. Fortunately, no children or other family members were injured.”

PCMC Chief Officer Kiran Gawade said, “No fire safety measures were in place at the unit. The living arrangement of the workers is very close to the place where the fire started. The empty barrels and scrap were placed in such a way that it created obstacles for firefighting.”

Inspector Gaware added, “While none of the workers came forward to file a complaint, we have registered a suo motu case against the owner of the unit. He has been booked under Indian Penal Code sections pertaining to negligent conduct with respect to fire and combustible matter and negligent act to endanger human life and personal safety.”

The Fire Brigade has identified the injured persons as Shivraj Boigwad (37) with sustained 20 per cent burns, Mahadu Padule (45) and Suresh Boigwad (26) sustained 25 per cent burns each and Musa Mohammed (65), Piraj Boigwad (26), Mallu Boigwad (45), Madhav Boigwad (28) and Balaji Boigwad (38).