A major leak of hazardous oleum gas at a chemical unit in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Monday (March 2, 2026) led to the evacuation of over 2,600 people, including 1,600 school students, while three persons complained of minor eye irritation, officials said.
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. at a unit of Bhageria Industries Ltd. in the Boisar MIDC area on the outskirts of Mumbai. The leak from a 2,500-litre oleum (fuming sulphuric acid) tank created a dense cloud of white fumes that spread rapidly due to strong winds, affecting areas within an estimated 5 km radius and causing panic among residents and workers in the industrial belt.
As a precaution, authorities evacuated 1,600 students from Tarapur Vidyamandir, and more than 1,000 workers from the factory and nearby industrial units.
Palghar District Collector Dr. Indu Rani Jakhar said the disaster management plan was activated immediately after the leak was reported. The cause of the leak was not immediately known.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), and the fire brigade initially faced difficulty due to high concentrations of fumes while attempting to reach the source of the leak.
