17 Dead and 10 Missing In Massive Fire At Pune Factory: Report

Pune Factory Fire: An enormous fire broke out at a plant dealing with chemicals in Ghotawade Phata in Maharashtra's Pune on Monday evening. It was reportedly at the SVS Aqua Technologies, Sanitizer Company located in Urvade village of Lavasa Road. The fire took away 17 lives and a few others are missing, said the local group of fire-fighters. Search activity is in progress. There were 37 workers on the premises at the hour of the fire.

As per the authorities from the local group of fire-fighters of PMRDA (Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority), at least six fire tenders were shipped off the plant of SVS Aqua Technologies in the Pirangut MIDC region in Mulshi tehsil to put out the blazes.

"We have recovered 17 bodies – 15 women and 2 men. Cooling and search operation is underway,” said Devendra Potphode, Chief Fire Officer, PMRDA ((Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority), Fire Services. He further added that the fire broke out during the plastic pressing process, smoke was so much that female labourers couldn't discover a path to get out, reported the chief.

Dr Abhinav Deshmukh, Superintendent of Police, Pune region, said the plant is occupied with creating chlorine dioxide for water purging. Chlorine dioxide is a substance compound that has an assortment of antimicrobial uses, including the sterilization of drinking water.

Maharashtra | 7 dead and 10 missing in massive fire incident at a company in Ghotawade Phata, Pune. Out of 37 on-duty employees, 20 have been rescued: Fire Department pic.twitter.com/wZs6j5UVwe

— ANI (@ANI) June 7, 2021

Officials' statements regarding the fire accident

The Prime Minister has allowed an ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakhs each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the closest relative of the individuals who have lost their lives because of fire at an industrial unit in Pune, Maharashtra. Rs. 50,000 would be given to those harmed said the Prime Minister's Office.

President Ram Nath Kovind said that the lives lost of labourers, for the most part being women, in a fire accident at a production line in Pune is very grievous. He expressed his sympathies to the people who lost their lives and their families. The President then said, " I pray to God for quick recuperation of the harmed.

Feature Image credit: The Hindu