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Thane: The Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) has filed a detailed report in the case of the deadly boiler blast at Amudan Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. in Dombivli MIDC before the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The report exposes gross violations of factory safety laws, pointing to severe negligence on the part of the company’s management.

The NGT had taken suo motu cognizance of the alleged explosion in May 2024, which claimed the lives of 10 people and injured over 60 others, and had directed the concerned authorities to submit a detailed report on the incident.

FPJ has accessed the report submitted by DISH before the Tribunal, which outlines 11 critical violations of the Factories Act, 1948, and the Maharashtra Factories Rules, 1963. The inquiry was led by the Deputy Director (ISH), Kalyan, and a show cause notice dated June 14, 2024, was served to the company, questioning why legal action should not be initiated.

Malay Mehta, the factory owner, has been booked under serious charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 304 IPC), along with Sections 324, 326, 285, 286, and 427 of the IPC, as well as relevant sections of the Explosive Act, the Explosive Substances Act, and the Damage to Public Property Act.

The key findings as mentioned in the report says,

1. Lack of Critical Safety Systems: The factory failed to maintain a safe working environment. No alarms or interlocks were installed for critical failures like utility loss, high temperature, or agitator malfunction—contravening Section 7A(2)(a) of the Factories Act.

2. Illegal Occupation of Premises: The occupier failed to notify authorities in writing, as mandated under Section 7(1)(b), after taking over the premises.

3. No Emergency or Disaster Plans: The occupier did not prepare an on-site emergency plan or disaster management measures, violating Section 41-B(4).

4. Unqualified Personnel: The factory did not appoint competent personnel for handling hazardous materials, as required by Section 41-C(b).

5. Unapproved Machinery Layout: The layout used did not conform to the approved plans, violating Rule 4(2) of the Maharashtra Factories Rules.

6. Unauthorized Process Changes: The manufacturing process was changed without informing DISH, breaching Rule 4(1)(d).

7. Lack of Worker Safety Information: Workers were not informed about the risks of handling hazardous chemicals such as sulphuric acid and hydrogen peroxide—violating Rule 73-N(1).

8. No External Safety Audit: The factory failed to conduct mandatory external safety audits every two years, as per Rule 3(b) of the Maharashtra Factories (Safety Audit) Rules, 2014.

9. Delayed Incident Reporting: The factory manager failed to file a mandatory accident report within 12 hours, violating Rule 115(2).

Due to these violations, Amudan Chemicals’ factory license was revoked on June 15, 2024, under Rule 9(A) of the Maharashtra Factories Rules.

Meanwhile, further the DISH has also recommended several measures as part of a preventive strategy to avoid such tragedies in the future. Citing them as mandatory upgrades, the report notes:

• Controlled addition of sulphuric acid should be ensured using specialized equipment.

• Strict installation of interlock systems with alarms for various critical process parameters is essential.

• Mandatory Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) studies by qualified experts must be conducted for the operating plant.

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• A comprehensive training program must be implemented for workers and operators, focusing on the handling of hazardous substances. These training sessions should be regularly updated with the latest safety protocols and developments.

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