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Tragedy in Palghar: Four Workers Die in Nitrogen Gas Leak at Pharma Factory
The leak triggered chaos on the factory floor. Reports describe harrowing scenes as colleagues pulled unconscious workers to safety; one individual even ventured back into the dangerous zone to locate two more missing workers. Emergency services and disaster management officials from Palghar mobilized swiftly.
- By Newsdesk
- New Delhi
- Aug 22, 2025
A devastating nitrogen gas leak at Medley Pharma’s facility in the Tarapur MIDC industrial zone, Boisar, claimed the lives of four employees and left two others in critical condition on Thursday afternoon.
The Incident Unfolds
Between roughly 2:30 PM and 3 PM, a nitrogen reaction tank within one of the plant's units malfunctioned, releasing a dangerous cloud of gas that overwhelmed six workers nearby. All six were swiftly transported to Shinde Hospital. Tragically, four succumbed to the effects by about 6:15 PM.
The identities of the deceased have been released as:
- Kalpesh Raut (43)
- Bangali Thakur (46)
- Dheeraj Prajapati (31)
- Kamlesh Yadav (31)
The two survivors—Rohan Shinde (35) and Nilesh Hadal (37)—are under intensive care in critical condition.
Bravery and Response
The leak triggered chaos on the factory floor. Reports describe harrowing scenes as colleagues pulled unconscious workers to safety; one individual even ventured back into the dangerous zone to locate two more missing workers. Emergency services and disaster management officials from Palghar mobilized swiftly.
Legal and Investigative Moves Underway
Boisar police have lodged an FIR citing culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against four senior executives of Medley Pharma. While an inquiry is active, no arrests have yet been made. Authorities, including the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health, have commenced technical probes to pinpoint the root cause and assess any lapses in safety measures.
Broader Implications
This tragedy once again underscores pressing concerns over industrial safety, particularly in densely packed zones like Tarapur, long recognized as one of India’s most polluted and high-risk industrial clusters. The accident spotlights the urgent need for more stringent safety protocols, regular maintenance checks, and enforcement of regulatory standards to prevent similar episodes in the future.