NAVI MUMBAI: A massive fire broke out at the JWR Logistics facility on the Palaspe-JNPA Highway near Padeghar, close to Panvel, on Saturday afternoon, sending up thick plumes of smoke and triggering explosions in a hazardous chemical storage section. The blaze was reported around 3 pm, and its cause is yet to be known.
According to fire officials, explosions were heard shortly after the fire started, as flames quickly spread to an area storing hazardous chemical materials, complicating access for emergency teams.
Teams from CIDCO, Panvel Municipal Corporation and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority rushed to the spot. CIDCO chief fire officer Vijay Rane said they received a call and immediately mobilised resources.
“After seeing the scale of the blaze, we immediately called additional fire engines. The fire is almost under control, but because it is a hazardous area, our teams are facing difficulty entering the main section,” he said.
He added that around nine fire vehicles from multiple agencies were deployed. However, officials said that even after several hours, the fire had not been fully put out and efforts were expected to continue late into the evening.
According to primary information from local authorities, the blast occurred at approximately 3:30 PM inside a facility handling volatile chemicals.
While the exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation, witnesses reported a series of deafening sounds that shattered windowpanes in nearby office buildings.
“It sounded like a sonic boom,” said a worker from a neighbouring Container Freight Station (CFS). “Within seconds, we saw a thick plume of black smoke rising from the chemical unit. The ground literally shook beneath our feet.“
Inferno at JWR Logistics Park
The impact of the blast quickly spread, leading to a massive blaze at the JWR Logistics Park. The fire, fueled by industrial materials and potential chemical runoff, has engulfed a significant portion of the logistics hub.
Massive clouds of acrid, dark smoke have blanketed the skyline, visible from several kilometres away, including parts of Belapur and Uran.
At least eight to ten fire tenders from the JNPT Fire Service, CIDCO, and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) have been rushed to the spot.
Firefighting operations are currently underway on a war footing to prevent the flames from spreading to adjacent chemical storage units and container yards.
JWR Logistics runs a large cargo handling facility in the Panvel-JNPA belt and claims to run India’s largest LCL (Less than Container Load) Container Freight Station. The site, spread over 97 acres, offers container handling, warehousing, inventory management and pan-India cargo movement services.
Strategically located on National Highway 4B, the facility is about 11 km from Jawaharlal Nehru Port and 4 km from Navi Mumbai International Airport, making it a critical node in the region’s supply chain network.
The Panvel-Uran-JNPA belt has witnessed rapid warehousing expansion in recent years, even as concerns persist over fire safety and hazardous material handling.
Casualties and Evacuation
While there has been no official confirmation regarding the number of casualties, unconfirmed reports suggest that few workers were inside the plant at the time of the explosion.
Emergency medical teams and ambulances have been stationed at the entry points of the logistics park.
Authorities have ordered an immediate evacuation of all non-essential personnel from the JWR Logistics Park and surrounding industrial plots.
The police have cordoned off the main approach roads to the port to ensure a clear path for emergency vehicles.
The nature of the chemicals involved has raised serious environmental and health concerns for the residents of Navi Mumbai.
Local administration has advised citizens in the downwind areas to stay indoors and keep their windows closed to avoid inhaling potentially toxic fumes.
