New Delhi: At least 18 workers, including 15 women, perished in a devastating fire that broke out at a chemical firm in an industrial area of Pune on Monday afternoon. One worker suffered burn injuries but managed to escape the fire.

According to news agency PTI, the fire broke out at SVS Aqua Technologies, which manufactures chlorine dioxide among other chemicals and is located in the Pirangut MIDC area of Mulshi tehsil on the outskirts of Pune city.

“So far, 18 bodies have been recovered from the firm’s premises. We have stopped the search operation due to the darkness and heat caused due to the blaze. The search operation will resume on Tuesday morning to find out if any worker is still missing,” said Sandesh Shirke, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Mulshi division.

According to the Times of India, 37 people were working in and around the plant when the fire broke out.

All the bodies, which were completely charred, were sent to the government-run Sassoon General Hospital for autopsy, Shirke said.

The bodies were burned beyond recognition and their identity will have to be ascertained by conducting DNA testing, he said.

A worker escaped with burn injuries and was admitted to the Sassoon General Hospital, where he is stated to be out of danger, Shirke said.

Fire brigade officials said the bodies were found in multiple groups with the victims clinging to each other in a desperate attempt to stay together and escape the inferno.

Devendra Potphode, chief fire officer of the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s Fire Services said six to seven fire tenders were rushed to the chemical unit to douse the flames.

Asked about the possible cause of the blaze, Potphode said as per the company officials, the fire started during packing of plastic materials in the premises.

“Due to some spark at the (packaging) section, the fire broke out and as there was plastic around, it spread rapidly,” said Potphode.

District collector Rajesh Deshmukh, who visited the spot, said an inquiry has been initiated into the tragic incident.

“A committee, led by the SDM, Mulshi, with the chief fire officer of MIDC, PMRDA and other officials as its members, has been formed to probe the incident and they will submit their report,” he said.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, in a statement, said an inquiry has been ordered to find out the exact cause of the fire and a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each will be given to the next of the kin of the deceased.

The Prime Minister’s Office has announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of those who died in the fire and Rs 50,000 for those who were injured. The compensation will be dispensed from the PM National Relief Fund.

The firm, located near Uravade village, around 40 km from the city, manufactures chemicals, including chlorine dioxide, which are used in water purification.

The family of Mangal Akhade, who had joined SVS Aqua Technologies just two months ago, said the intensity of the flames was fearsome.

They were among the locals who rushed to the spot after the fire broke out. Anticipating that workers may have been trapped inside, they had arranged two backhoe loaders (heavy equipment vehicles) and broke the walls of the firm, and arranged a water tanker to douse the flames.

“The intensity of the fire was so high that it was difficult to go near the building. However, our drivers on backhoe loaders went ahead and broke the walls so that the people could come out,” said a local resident. However, the efforts were in vain.

The local administration should give adequate compensation to the family members of the workers who died in the inferno, Bhau Akhade, Mangal’s uncle, said.