Warning alarm saves 100 in Palghar steel plant blast

A powerful blast at Viraj Profiles SMS in Tarapur industrial area, Palghar, on Monday at 10.45 am injured two workers. The blast occurred while steel was being melted in a furnace. Around 100 workers were present, but a warning alarm sounded two minutes before the explosion, allowing them to evacuate and averting a major tragedy.

Crane operator Dharmendra Kumar Ramavadh Sharma, 45, suffered 10% burns and is being treated at Starlight Hospital in Boisar. Another worker sustained minor leg injuries and was discharged after first aid, said Palghar superintendent of police Yatish Deshmukh. The blast also damaged nearby factories.

Officials from the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health have conducted a preliminary inspection. A detailed technical investigation is underway to find the exact cause of the blast.