Situation brought under control after Oleum gas leak triggers panic in Boisar MIDC

Palghar District Collector Dr. Indu Rani Jakhar on Monday (March 2, 2026) noted that the situation in Boisar has been brought under control, after an industrial safety scare unfolded at the Bhageria Chemicals unit in the Tarapur MIDC area following a leak of oleum gas from a storage tank, earlier in the day.

“The situation is entirely under control now. Our teams remain deployed at the site, and we urge citizens not to panic or pay heed to rumours,” said Dr. Jakhar.

According to a statement released by the Collector of Palaghar District, the incident, which occurred around 2 p.m., led to the evacuation of more than 2,600 individuals, including over 1,600 students from a local school, as a precautionary measure.

The leak originated from a 20-ton capacity tank containing oleum, also known as fuming sulfuric acid. Upon exposure to the atmosphere, the chemical reacted to form a dense white plume of sulfur dioxide and other oxides, which spread across Salwad, Pasthal, Khairepada, and Saravali villages. The wind, blowing from west to east, carried the irritant gas over a radius of approximately one-and-a-half kilometres.

Residents and workers in the vicinity reported immediate health impacts, including a burning sensation in the eyes, throat irritation, and respiratory distress. Authorities confirmed that no casualties or serious injuries have been reported so far.

Emergency services were mobilised. Dr. Jakhar and Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh reached the site to oversee the rescue and containment operations. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the fire brigade, and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) were pressed into service.

The firefighting personnel worked for nearly four hours to contain the leak, which was finally plugged at around 6.45 p.m. after addressing a technical fault in the valve. Preliminary estimates from the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) suggest that approximately one tonne of oleum may have escaped before the leak was sealed.

The incident has once again raised questions about industrial safety protocols in the Tarapur belt. The MIDC has initiated a formal inquiry to determine the precise cause of the leak. In a parallel development, the Boisar police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the management of Bhageria Chemicals, and a detailed investigation is underway. The district administration has appealed for calm, assuring residents that all necessary measures are being implemented to prevent such industrial incidents in the future.