Grasim Industries Limited, the flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, on Monday announced that the Department of Industrial Safety & Health has ordered a temporary closure of the Carbon Di Sulphide (CS2) refining section of its Century Rayon plant, Shahad. “This is to inform that the we are in the receipt of the Order from Department of Industrial Safety & Health, Kalyan (DISH) under the Factories Act, 1948 dated 23rd September 2023 and in accordance with the Order, Carbon Di Sulphide (CS2) refining section of the plant has been closed temporarily and shall be operational after complying the conditions stipulated in the Order,” the company said in a regulatory filing.
It further stated that the management has initiated the necessary steps to comply with the conditions stipulated in the said order. It added that this is not likely to have a material impact on the company’s profitability. “We further inform with regrets that 2 yet to be accounted persons have been found to be deceased,” it said.
Earlier on Saturday, at least two persons died and six others were injured following an explosion at a Century Rayon factory in Maharashtra’s Shahad. Two persons who were reportedly at the spot at the time of the incident are missing. “The incident took place around noon. Prima facie, it appears that nitrogen gas containers were taken to the company premises. They were going to fill CS2 (carbon disulfide) in it. However, while they were conducting a check before filing CS2, the incident took place. It appears proper procedure has not been followed due to which the explosion took place,” Zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sudhakar Pathare had said.
Century Rayon is involved in the viscose filament yarn business in India and is under the management and operation of Grasim Industries Limited.