Overview
- The leak began around 2 pm on March 2 at Bhageria Chemicals in Tarapur MIDC from a 2,500-litre oleum day tank reported to be about 65% full, releasing dense white fumes across an estimated 3–5 km radius.
- Multi-agency teams from the NDRF, BARC and the fire brigade entered with SCBA gear, used sandbags to suppress emissions and stopped the leak at approximately 6:45 pm.
- Authorities evacuated about 1,600 students from local schools and more than 1,000 workers from the plant and nearby units, and cleared parts of the MIDC residential colony.
- Health impacts remained limited as three people with eye or respiratory irritation received treatment and were later discharged, according to district officials.
- Police registered an FIR against Bhageria management and sealed the unit as DISH and MPCB inquiries and air-quality monitoring continue to determine the cause and any liability, with a preliminary estimate suggesting roughly one tonne may have escaped before containment.