3 dead, 9 hospitalised after gas leak, blast at fertiliser plant in Maharashtra

NEW DELHI: Three people, including two women, were killed and nine others hospitalised following a gas leak after a blast at a fertiliser plant in Sangli district on Thursday evening.

The incident occurred at Myanmar Chemical Company, located in Shalgaon MIDC, Kadegaon tehsil, around 6:30 pm.

According to police officials, the explosion of a reactor at the plant led to the release of chemical fumes, believed to be ammonia. "Due to the gas leak, 12 people were affected and rushed to nearby hospitals. Tragically, two women workers and a security guard succumbed to the exposure, while nine others are receiving treatment," said Sangram Shewale, Senior Inspector at Kadegaon police station.

The deceased women have been identified as Suchita Uthale (50) from Yetgaon, Sangli district, and Neelam Rethrekar (26) from Masur, Satara district. Seven of the injured were admitted to Sahyadri Hospital in Karad, with five in the ICU, according to hospital sources.

The district’s Superintendent of Police, Sandip Ghuge, confirmed that ammonia was the suspected gas involved in the leak. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the reactor blast and the resulting leak.


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