In a massive explosion at a chemical factory in Dombivali on Thursday afternoon, three people are feared killed. According to preliminary reports, the blast occurred in a boiler room of the Acharya Chemicals factory in the MIDC area in Dombivali (east).

"We have learned about three workers dying in the incident but are further confirming this. Fire tenders, water tankers and ambulances are currently at the spot," said Joint Commissioner of Police Ashutosh Dumbare, Thane police.

Local residents said the explosion shattered window glasses of houses and establishments as far as two kilometres from the factory.

"My sister stays three minutes away from the factory. Every window in her house has been reduced to powdered glass. People are scared and confused. There is chaos everywhere," said Raju Nalawade, a resident of a nearby locality, Milaap Nagar.

Locals said fire was still raging inside the factory. Over 50 workers and four among them are seriously injured. They have been taken to the municipal hospital in Dombivali.

People are believed to be trapped inside. “It felt like an earthquake in the beginning but people realized it was an explosion. There is a lot of smoke everywhere,” said a local resident. The adjacent buildings too have been damaged and there was debris all over. Cars parked nearby were also damaged.