NDRF team reaches the spill site after an oil spill incident occurred at Bhageria Chemicals Company in Tarapur MIDC area of Boisar, in Palghar March 2, 2026 | Photo credit: ANI
District Collector Palghar Dr. Indu Rani Jakhar on Monday (March 2, 2026) noted that the situation in Boisar has been brought under control after an industrial security scare erupted at the Bhageria Chemicals unit in the Tarapur area of MIDC earlier in the day following an oil gas leak from a storage tank.
“The situation is now fully under control. Our teams remain deployed at the site and we urge citizens not to panic and pay attention to rumours,” said Dr. Jakhar.
According to a statement issued by the Collector of Palaghar District, the incident, which occurred around 2:00 pm, led to the evacuation of over 2,600 persons, including over 1,600 students from a local school, as a precautionary measure.
The leak occurred from a 20-ton tank containing oleum, also known as fuming sulfuric acid. After being exposed to the atmosphere, the chemical reacted to form a thick white cloud of sulfur dioxide and other oxides that spread over the villages of Salwad, Pasthal, Khairepada and Saravali. Winds blowing from west to east carried the irritating gas within a radius of approximately one and a half kilometers.
Residents and workers in the area reported immediate health effects, including burning in the eyes, throat irritation and breathing difficulties. Authorities have confirmed that no casualties or serious injuries have been reported so far.
Emergency services were mobilized. Dr. Jakhar and Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh reached the spot to oversee the rescue and apprehension operations. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire brigade and Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) have been deployed.
Firefighters worked for nearly four hours to contain the leak, which was finally closed around 6:45 p.m. after a technical fault with the valve was fixed. Preliminary estimates from the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) indicate that approximately one ton of oil 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 launched a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of the leak. Parallel to this, the Boisar Police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the management of Bhageria Chemicals and a detailed investigation is underway. The district administration called for calm and assured residents that all necessary measures are being taken to prevent similar industrial incidents in the future.
Published – March 3, 2026 12:48 PM IST
