Palghar, Maharashtra: An FIR has been registered at Boisar Police Station against the management of Bhageria Chemicals Limited following the oleum gas leak reported at its unit in the Tarapur MIDC area on March 2. The company has been sealed until further notice.
Charges Under BNS, IPC
The case has been registered under Sections 280, 125, 286 and 289 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant provisions under Sections 278, 336, 284 and 287 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deal with negligent handling of poisonous substances and acts endangering human life.
“Further action will be taken once the reports from the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) are submitted. The police investigation is also ongoing, and the company has been sealed for the time being,” said Dr. Indu Rani Jakhar, District Collector and Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority.
Worker's Complaint Alleges Negligence
The complaint was filed by a worker who alleged that the company management was negligent in maintaining machinery and the oleum storage tank, resulting in the leak. The complainant stated that toxic fumes spread within the factory premises and nearby areas, polluting the atmosphere and posing a threat to human life. Those exposed reported breathing difficulties, throat irritation and eye discomfort.
The offence was registered on the evening of March 2, 2026. Police said the delay in registration was due to the case being initiated based on a Medico-Legal Case (MLC) report. No arrests have been made so far, and further investigation is underway.
Background of the case
The suspected oleum gas leak was reported around 2 pm on March 2 at Plot No. D-17 in the D-Zone of Tarapur MIDC, Boisar, near the villages of Salwad and Pasthal in Palghar district.
According to the Palghar District Disaster Management Authority, oleum leaked from a 2,500-litre capacity day tank that was approximately 65 per cent full at the time. The leak led to dense white fumes spreading into surrounding areas due to wind direction, creating fog-like conditions and raising alarm among residents in the industrial belt.
Emergency response teams from multiple agencies rushed to the spot, including the Tarapur Industrial Fire Brigade, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Adani Thermal Power Station, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Palghar district administration, revenue and disaster management departments, police, the industrial safety and health department, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), and MARG Teams Assist in Containmentthe health department.
MARG Teams Assist in Containment
Members of the Mutual Aid Response Group (MARG) from neighbouring industries assisted in containment operations using Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). A truckload of sand was deployed at the leak site to minimise further emission of fumes. Due to the high concentration of fumes, teams initially faced difficulty in locating the source of the leak, which was later identified and brought under control by NDRF personnel and chemical experts.
As a precautionary measure, approximately 2600 workers from nearby industries and students from a school in the vicinity were evacuated. Those evacuated included 220 workers from Aarti Pharma, 458 from Bhageria Industries, 170 from IVP Plot No. D-19, 40 from Yogesh Textop, 150 from Jagdish Company, and approximately 1,600 students from Tarapur Vidyamandir School.
Three individuals who experienced minor eye irritation and breathing discomfort were admitted to local hospitals for observation. Authorities later confirmed that all three have been discharged and are in stable condition.
Further investigation into the incident is ongoing.
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