Massive Explosion Rocks Adani Ventures Plant in Uran.

Unmesh Gujarathi

Sprouts News Exclusive

A major explosion rocked the Indian Oil-Adani Ventures Limited facility in Uran, owned by industrialist Gautam Adani, earlier this evening. The blast occurred during cleaning and repair work on a naphtha storage tank, resulting in serious injuries to a young engineer. According to Sprouts News Special Investigation Team, the explosion was so powerful that it shook nearby Dhutum village, forcing frightened residents to flee their homes.

Witnesses reported that the magnitude of the blast could have caused extensive damage to neighboring settlements had it spread further. Local villagers are now demanding a full-scale investigation into the incident, raising critical concerns about safety regulations in industrial zones surrounding Mumbai’s redevelopment hubs.

The facility, which stores highly flammable materials like petrol, diesel, and naphtha, had ongoing maintenance work on Tank No. 22—a structure with a 30,000-kiloliter capacity—when the explosion occurred around 5:15 PM. During operations, a combination of oxygen, sodium sulfate, and residual naphtha reportedly triggered the devastating blast, according to Senior Police Inspector Jitendra Misal of the Uran Police Station. Injured engineer Rohit Sargar was rushed to Apollo Hospital in Navi Mumbai and remains in critical condition.

Two years ago, Adani Group assumed control of the facility, which previously operated under the Central Government’s jurisdiction. However, villagers allege that the company consistently avoids sharing operational clearance details. Former Sarpanch of Dhutum, Premnath Thakur, criticized the lack of transparency, stating that repeated requests for documentation were ignored. This raises new alarms about safety compliance as Mumbai accelerates urban redevelopment initiatives across housing societies and industrial belts.

Following the incident, local authorities have ordered a detailed inquiry into the explosion. The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team reports that if the fire had spread further, it could have triggered a large-scale disaster affecting surrounding urban redevelopment projects and residential areas.

As Mumbai’s urban development policy increasingly pushes industrial facilities closer to residential zones, the Uran explosion highlights a growing need for stricter regulatory oversight and crisis preparedness to protect communities living near major industrial storage operations.