（31日）当地时间上午9时45分左右，马哈拉什特拉邦一间化工厂突然起火爆炸，大火一发不可收拾，阵阵黑烟瞬间直窜天际。据当地媒体报导，事发当时至少有100名工人在工厂里作业，突如其来的大火，许多人来不及逃生受困火海
据当地媒体报道，这家化工厂位于马哈拉施特拉邦杜利亚一处工业园内。爆炸引发大火，现场浓烟滚滚。周围村民在接受当地媒体采访时表示，爆炸产生的冲击波非常强，周围村庄震感明显。目前，当地消防部门和国家应急救援力量正展开救援。事故原因正在调查中。
13 dead, 35 injured in chemical factory blast in Maharashtra"s Dhule; at least 70 trapped
MUMBAI: At least 13 persons died and another 35 injured in a major explosion at a chemical factory located at Waghadi village in Maharashtra"sShirpur on Saturday. Seventy persons are still trapped inside the factory, authorities informed. Rescue and relief efforts are underway. A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed at the site.
As per preliminary information, the explosion occurred at inside a chemical company compound in Shirpur"s Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation. The blast was so intense that surrounding villages felt tremors. Six fire brigades were immediately rushed to the accident spot.
Plumes of black smoke have engulfed the entire area. Authorities fear the smoke could be hazardous and may endanger the lives of people in the area. Since MIDC"s premises are far from the city, several workers reside within the company premises along with their families.
Nearly 100 workers were inside the factory at the time of the explosion. Among those injured include several minor children living in the factory compound.
The police control room received a call about the explosion at 10.20 am. Treatment and rescue efforts were delayed after the first responders at the site feared multiple explosions would follow.
The injured have been admitted to sub-district hospital. Those in critical condition have been shifted to private hospitals in the area.
The overall death toll is likely to go up, fear authorities.
A team of chemical experts and doctors have been moved to location, informed Dhuleguardian minister Girish Mahajan.
Prima facie, cylinders explosion has been cited as the reason behind the blast at the factory. No official information has been released on the reason behind the explosion and who owns the chemical company.
However, questions on following safety procedures in such dangerous chemicals factories are already being raked up.
Waghadi village, where the incident took place, is60 kms away from Dhule and400 km from Mumbai.
