Chemical Leak at Aarti Pharmalabs Hospitalizes 17 Workers in Palghar, Adds to Tarapur's Safety Concerns
A minor Di-Methyl Sulphate (DMS) leak at Aarti Pharmalabs in Palghar's Tarapur MIDC on Sunday afternoon led to 17 workers being hospitalized with eye irritation. The incident, occurring during tanker filling, was quickly contained. Doctors confirmed no life threat, despite DMS being highly toxic. This event adds to a concerning series of industrial accidents in the Tarapur area, raising significant safety concerns among workers and residents, prompting an official investigation.
On Sunday afternoon, a minor chemical leak occurred at Aarti Pharmalabs Limited in the MIDC Tarapur industrial area of Boisar, Palghar. The incident, around 1:45 pm, involved Di-Methyl Sulphate (DMS) overflowing from a tanker's vent line during filling. Operators quickly contained the spill by shutting the valve. The plant's safety team promptly evacuated workers and initiated neutralisation using lime and soda ash, completing the process by 2:30 PM.Despite immediate containment, fumes from the highly toxic DMS caused irritation, particularly burning sensations in the eyes, among workers involved in the clean-up. As a precautionary measure, 17 affected employees were admitted to Lifeline Multispeciality Hospital around 7:00 PM after experiencing continued discomfort. Doctors confirmed their symptoms were limited to eye irritation and posed no threat to life, though DMS is known as a 'silent killer' due to its hazardous nature and potential for delayed severe health effects.This incident highlights a growing safety crisis in the Tarapur MIDC, which has experienced several industrial accidents recently. Previous incidents include a major gas leak at Bhageria Industries affecting 2600 people, and other leaks at Vinayak Chemex and a fire at Shiv Industries. These repeated occurrences have fostered an atmosphere of fear among the industrial belt's workforce and local residents. Authorities have launched a detailed investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the leak and implement measures to prevent future recurrences.
