PUNE: The 18 men and women trapped inside the SVS Aqua Technologies plant at Urawade near Pirangut in Mulshi taluka about 30km from Pune on Monday had little scope to save themselves as the blaze raged on and the smoke dimmed visibility.
Rescue attempts too failed as the fire grew in intensity.
The police said 37 people were working inside and around the plant.
Barring those caught inside, the others moved to a safe place when the fire started.
The Paud police were in the process of registering a case late on Monday.
The team of rescuers from the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority, the MIDC and local officials scurried to help those trapped inside, but were too late.
They brought in earth movers and other heavy equipment and broke down the walls at either ends to gain access to the inside of the plant.
The company manufactures, supplies and exports air, water and surface treatment chemicals, systems and solutions.
It was founded in 1987 and incorporated in 2012, the website said.
Devendra Potphode, chief fire officer of PMRDA, said the plant had a lot of chlorine component required in the manufacture of water purification units.
“The fire grew in intensity because of the plastic and chemical material in the plant, and the thick smoke caused by the burning chemical reduced the visibility inside.
The chlorine component by itself is not inflammable.
We suspect things may have gone wrong during the packaging of units that involved the use of plastic.
Some spark may have caused the blaze which would have spread quickly,” Potphode said.
The PMRDA’s MIDC fire brigade brought in at least eight fire-fighting tenders and 50 firemen fought to put out the fire, and bring out the victims from the plant.
“The last victim whose body was traced late in the evening was a lab technician working at a small laboratory located on the mezzanine floor of the plant,” Potphode said.
People who stood by in large groups waited in absolute silence.
Villagers warned those arriving at the scene to keep away from the site because of the chemicals.