A massive fire broke out at a chemical storage godown near Savad Naka in Lonad village, Bhiwandi town, along the Mumbai-Nashik highway in Thane district late Sunday night, officials reported. The blaze, which started around 9:45 PM, sent thick smoke billowing into the air, sparking panic in the surrounding industrial area. Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire, which continues to challenge firefighting efforts.

No fatalities have been reported, but a fire officer, Nitin Lad, sustained injuries after slipping into a drain while battling the flames in a fire suit. He received immediate medical attention, according to Saquib Kharbe, chief of the Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation’s disaster management cell. The incident underscores the dangers faced by emergency responders in such high-risk operations.

Firefighting teams, including four fire engines from Kalyan, Bhiwandi, and Ulhasnagar, along with private water tankers, were deployed to combat the blaze. Yasin Tadvi, chief of the Thane Municipal Corporation’s disaster management cell, confirmed that multiple fire personnel remain on-site, working to extinguish the flames. The intensity of the fire, fuelled by chemicals stored in the godown, has complicated efforts to bring it under control.

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The incident has raised concerns about safety regulations in industrial storage facilities along the busy Mumbai-Nashik corridor. Authorities are expected to investigate the godown’s compliance with fire safety standards once the blaze is contained. Local residents and businesses await updates as firefighting operations continue.

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