Date: June 7, 2021
Location: Pune, Maharashtra (India)
Address: Mahavir Palace, 520, New Rasta Peth, Pune, 411011
Type: Potential Dust Fire
Fuel: Plastic Dust
Industry: Chemical Production
Equipment: Unknown
Company: SVS Aqua Technologies
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: 17 Killed, 20 Injured
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its website, SVS Aqua Technologies is a chemical production company in Pune, India. It manufactures chlorine dioxide products as well as a wide range of air, water and surface treatment chemicals, systems, and solutions.
Incident Description:
On June 8, 2021, Powder & Bulk Solids reported a fire at a chemical production plant in Pune, India.
The fire ignited at around 3:45 p.m. and trapped 37 people inside the building. Emergency responders were forced to break into the wall to free them. The fire was finally extinguished at 6:30 p.m.
Seventeen people were killed and 20 others injured. A fire official told reporters that the fire may have been started by a spark in an area used for packaging plastic materials. The Deccan Herald reported that large stock of sanitizers stored with inflammable materials may have aggravated the fire.
The Prime Minister of India pledged to provide 200,000 Indian rupees, or about $2,750, to the families of the deceased workers, as well as funds to support those who were injured.
On June 11, Chemical Processing reported that the company owner was arrested and charged with culpable homicide. A preliminary probe reportedly showed that the company violated safety norms and building permissions and no firefighting mechanism or equipment was at the site.
Sources:
Powder & Bulk Solids
Process Worldwide
Chemical Processing
Deccan Herald
