Major fire & industrial-accident roundup (India) — 22 Sep → 28 Sep 2025

Major fire & industrial-accident roundup (India) — 22 Sep → 28 Sep 2025

Below is a concise professional summary of the significant fires and industrial incidents across India during the week 22–28 September 2025. For each event I give: a short incident brief (date/time), the probable cause (based on early reports), recommended corrective & preventive actions, and emergency-preparedness lessons. A summary table follows, then a short note on why consultation & emergency-response training are essential.
(Sources are cited after each incident — these are early/initial news reports; official investigations may alter root-cause findings.)

1) Cargo ship Haridarshan — fire at Porbandar jetty (Porbandar, Gujarat)

Date & time: 22 Sep 2025 — morning (first call to fire control ~06:40 IST). The Indian Express+1

Brief: A Somalia-bound general cargo vessel (named Haridarshan / Haridharshan in some reports) caught fire while at Subhashnagar/Porbandar jetty while loading cargo (reported cargo: ~950–1,000 tonnes rice and ~78–100 tonnes sugar). Firefighting was attempted from land and sea (Porbandar Fire & Emergency Services and Indian Coast Guard). Because of risk to fuel tanks and nearby berths, authorities had the vessel taken out to sea/towed away to limit damage to port infrastructure and other ships. All crew reportedly evacuated safely; no immediate fatalities reported. The Indian Express+1

Probable cause (initial): Fire appears to have started in the cargo hold/cargo area. Bulk agricultural cargoes (rice, sugar) can smoulder or self-heat if contaminated or compacted, and can become a fire risk when combined with ignition sources; however, formal cause remains under investigation. The Indian Express+1

Corrective & preventive actions:

• Immediate: ensure full cargo and engine-room inspections; verify no hot-work or ignition sources were active near cargo; check ventilation and bilge ignition sources.
• Short term: audit cargo-stowage, fumigation and moisture control procedures; review cargo temperature monitoring and hot-work permits.
• Long term: implement/verify IMSBC & IMDG (as relevant) cargo handling procedures, fire detection in holds, fixed deck-monitoring thermometry for bulk food cargoes, crew training in cargo fires, and port contingency drills for moored vessel fires.

Emergency-preparedness needs / lessons:

• Ports must have coordinated shore/ship firefighting plans and quick tow-away procedures; access to sea-side firefighting assets (ICG/DM) and foam/stream capability is critical.
• Pre-positioning of towing assets and rapid crew evacuation plans prevented casualties here — reinforce this practice nationwide. DeshGujarat+1

2) Gas explosion & fire at catering unit — Kandivli (East), Mumbai, Maharashtra

Date & time: 24 Sep 2025 (Wednesday) — ~09:00 IST (explosion reported around 9 AM). The Times of India

Brief: An LPG gas leak at a ground-floor catering unit led to an explosion and fire in a chawl (Gita Timber Traders premises at Mistry chawl). Seven people were initially injured; later in the week (reported 28 Sep) three of the injured succumbed to severe burns. The unit reportedly lacked required fire permissions; workers had attempted unsafe temporary fixes (reports mention a cylinder being inverted and placed in water). The Times of India

Probable cause (initial): Accumulation of leaked LPG from a cylinder and unsafe handling/storage practices (improper temporary fixes and likely inadequate ventilation). Exact technical cause to be determined by authorities. The Times of India

Corrective & preventive actions:

• Immediate: remove remaining LPG cylinders to a safe open area, isolate supply lines, inspect adjacent units for leak risk.
• Short term: enforce mandatory licensing and fire-safety compliance for catering units in chawls/tenements; mandatory cylinder storage rules and mandatory use of certified LPG regulators and leak detection (soap test / gas detectors) where relevant.
• Long term: formalize awareness & competence training for small catering operators on cylinder safety, emergency shut-off, and mandatory daily pre-shift leak checks.

Emergency-preparedness needs / lessons:

• Even small commercial kitchens require basic detection (portable gas sensors) and escape planning; building management must maintain access for fire services. Rapid detection & evacuation and prohibition of risky temporary fixes save lives — regulatory enforcement and community awareness campaigns are essential. The Times of India

3) Fire at sodium-chloride (chemical) packaging unit — Ambadvet / Ambarvet, Mulshi, Pune (Maharashtra)

Date & time: 28 Sep 2025 — ~12:15–12:30 IST (reported midday). The Times of India+1

Brief: A fire and reported chemical-drum explosions occurred at a sodium-chloride packaging unit (Swaraj Enterprises/Ambadvet) during packaging operations. Three workers suffered serious burns (two with very high % burns) and were hospitalised. Fire services controlled the blaze within about 30 minutes (local units responded promptly). Investigations into whether the facility had required approvals and the precise ignition source are ongoing. The Times of India+1

Probable cause (initial): Early reports speculate a chemical-related explosion (possibly due to packaging/processing activity or presence of incompatible materials), but the exact initiating event is under probe. Sodium chloride (table salt) itself is not highly flammable — likely ignition involved contaminants, lubricants, electrical fault, or stored ancillary chemicals. The Indian Express+1

Corrective & preventive actions:

• Immediate: isolate the site, account for chemicals present, secure and safely remove any damaged drums, and provide medical follow up for affected workers.
• Short term: perform a process hazard review to identify combustible contaminants, check electrical installations and hot-work permits, and ensure emergency shut-down procedures and PPE availability.
• Long term: ensure licensing/consent to operate, implement chemical-compatibility storage rules, install fixed fire detection and sprinkler systems where appropriate, run process-safety audits and enforce worker training for handling packaged chemicals.

Emergency-preparedness needs / lessons:

• Even for seemingly inert products (like salt), packaging plants can host significant hazards (dust explosions, electrical ignition, ancillary chemicals). Facilities should have site-specific ERTs, burn-injury triage plans, and local hospital coordination. The Times of India+1

4) Major fire at commercial complex / textile godown — Big Bazaar Street / Town Hall, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)

Date & time: 28 Sep 2025 — ~11:30 IST (reported mid-morning). The Times of India+1

Brief: A four-storey commercial complex (named Simco showroom / garment godown on Big Bazaar Street) caught fire in a clothing storage area on the upper floor. Over 50 people were evacuated; two persons fainted due to smoke inhalation and were hospitalised in stable condition. Firefighting response involved multiple tenders, a sky-lift and water trucks; the blaze took several hours to bring under control. Loss of stock was substantial — local police estimated goods damaged worth around ₹1 crore (reported figure). The initial suspected cause in some reports is electrical short circuit. The Times of India+1

Probable cause (initial): Suspected electrical short circuit in the godown / storage area (under investigation). High fuel load (packed garments) and likely poor separation/escape routes contributed to rapid fire spread. dtnext+1

Corrective & preventive actions:

• Immediate: structural and electrical inspection; isolate power, salvage undamaged stock safely, and secure evidence for investigation.
• Short term: enforce compliance with fire licences and mandatory detection/suppression (automatic smoke detection, portable extinguishers, clear escape signage, checked emergency lighting), and restrict storage above permitted levels.
• Long term: retrofit older commercial buildings with automatic detection & alarm, compartmentation, and dedicated firefighting access; regular electrical preventive maintenance and thermal scanning of panels.

Emergency-preparedness needs / lessons:

• Dense retail markets with upper-floor godowns require enforced fire-separation and routine inspections; busy shopping areas must have rapid evacuation plans and clear access for fire tenders (no encroachments). Early detection and compartmentation would have reduced spread and losses. The Times of India+

5) Residential high-rise fire — Undri, Pune, Maharashtra

• Date & time: ~27 Sep 2025, ~14:30 IST (reported) — The Times of India
• Brief / impact: A fire broke out on the 12th floor of a 14-storey residential tower. A 16-year-old boy died; eight people including two firefighters were injured (some from explosion shock). — The Times of India
• Notes: The tower’s built-in fire protection system (hose, sprinklers) was reported non-functional; firefighters had to rely on external hoses and ladders. — The Times of India

6) Molten metal spill / fire — Bokaro Steel Plant, Jharkhand

• Date & time: 28 Sep 2025, ~15:45 IST (approx) — The Times of India
• Brief / impact: A crane cable snapped while carrying molten metal; the spill caused severe burns to workers nearby. Three contract workers critically injured. — The Times of India
• Notes: Some reports list four injured (depending on source). — Uniindia

7) Fire at wooden handicraft manufacturing unit — Bengaluru, Karnataka

• Date & time: Early morning, ~03:00 AM (reported) — The Times of India
• Brief / impact: Fire broke out at Adiga Creations unit in Malleswaram. No casualties reported. About 10 laborers escaped safely. Some neighboring apartments had damage to grills and windows. — The Times of India
• Notes: Suspected cause: short circuit in the unit. — The Times of India

8) Fire at Munoth Industries (electronics / battery plant) — near Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh

• Date & time: During the past week (report says “last week”) — morning (exact hour not specified) — The Times of India
• Brief / impact: Fire destroyed the Munoth Industries manufacturing unit producing lithium-ion battery cells, located near Tirupati Airport. No workers were present at the time, hence no casualties. Estimated property loss: ~ ₹80 crore (machinery, inventory). — The Times of India

🚨 Why Consultation & Emergency Response Training Are Essential

• Diversity of hazards — From LPG leaks to cargo ship fires, molten metal spills to lithium-ion thermal events, incidents cover all sectors.
• Recurring themes — Poor electrical maintenance, unsafe handling, inadequate firefighting systems, and non-functional safety infrastructure.
• Lives & assets at stake — 4 lives lost, over 20 injured, and property losses in hundreds of crores just in one week.
• Preparedness gap — Many facilities lacked detection systems, drills, or compliance certificates.

👉 This underlines why organizations need expert consultation, process safety audits, workplace HSE compliance checks, and emergency-response training.

📩 Contact Us

Agni Raksha Niti is your one-stop solution for Fire Safety, Life Safety, Workplace HSE & Process Safety.

• Follow us on LinkedIn for regular updates.
• Email: agnirakshaniti@gmail.com