Death toll in Raigad pharma factory fire increases to 11: NDRF

With this, the bodies of all the 11 persons who were reported missing after the November 3 blaze at the plant of Blue Jet Healthcare Pvt Ltd in the MIDC industrial area in Mahad, around 170km from Mumbai, have been found, said the National Disaster Response Force (NFRF) official.

According to the official, four more bodies were recovered from the factory’s premises by search and rescue personnel, taking the toll to 11.

The bodies were burned beyond recognition and in one case just the skeleton was left, he said, adding the search-cum-rescue operation involving fire brigade, local police and NDRF personnel was called off on Monday evening.

Initial investigation suggests an electric short circuit caused the blaze in which seven others were also injured, the official added.

Officials on Friday said that the blaze erupted following a blast at the factory. The fire then led the barrels containing chemicals to explode.