Navi Mumbai: The owner of Swasthya Agro Enterprises, a cold storage facility in Turbhe MIDC, have been booked by the police for negligence after 26 workers were hospitalized on Friday afternoon due to inhalation of toxic generator fumes.
The incident occurred when a power outage disrupted operations at the unit and the management activated a generator inside the enclosed workspace. The resulting fumes spread rapidly through the facility, causing several workers—both men and women—to experience severe breathlessness and discomfort.
They were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Four of the workers, who were in critical condition, continue to receive treatment at MGM Hospital in Vashi, while others were discharged after preliminary care. Of the 26, 17 were females and nine male.
Following the incident, Turbhe MIDC police conducted an inspection at the site and found that the company had failed to provide basic safety measures to protect its workers from potential hazards.
“Since the company dealt with storing of packed fruits, they needed air conditioners at the gala. When there was a power outage, they used generator. The istake done here was that they kept the generator inside due to which the workers inhaled the fumes or carbon monoxide that emerged from the generator, continuously making them sick. The generator should have been kept outside,” said senior police officer Abasaheb Patil from the Turbhe MIDC police station.
Police officials have registered a case of negligence against the company’s owner and further procedures are on.
