Evacuation in Dombivli lasts for just an hour

The Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) on Thursday announced temporary evacuation of residential buildings in Gandhinagar of Dombivli MIDC following the boiler blast. As per the order, the residents did leave their homes on Friday, but returned only an hour later after the local corporator claimed said it was safe to go back.

On May 26 around 12.30pm, Chaya Pagare and her family left their fourth-floor flat in Jayashri Nivas, along with other residents of the area. All buildings near the blast site were vacated as per KDMC commissioner E Ravindran's order.

After the rescue work at the blast site was over and the area seemed free of the chemical odour, local corporator Mahesh Patil came and told the residents it was safe to return. So we returned after only an hour," said Pagare.

Many residents, however, complained of nausea. "There is smoke all around the building and I am finding it difficult to breath," said Richa D, a resident. "We did visit our family doctor on Thursday but I guess these problems are due to the chemicals in the air," she added.

While most residents chose to follow their corporator's advice, Akshay Yande decided to go and stay with his relatives for some days. "I am shifting to my relative's place near the Dombivli station. I will not return till it is safe to stay here," he said, while packing his bags.

When contacted, corporator Patil said he asked the residents to return to their homes as the hazardous chemicals were removed from the area. "There were a few drums of alcohol with the barrels of chemicals. They were removed in the afternoon. So, I asked people to go back to their homes as it was safe," he said.