Sparkling candle-making unit owner injured in bid to mix two chemicals in Pune

Pune: The owner of a sparkling candle-making unit in Undri suffered burn injuries after he attempted to grind two chemicals prompting a blast at around 5pm on Monday.The Kalepadal police on Tuesday evening registered a case against the 50-year-old injured man.

The police said that he attempted to grind potassium nitrate and titanium dioxide, which led to the blast.Senior inspector Girisha Nimbalkar of the Kalepadal police said, “His house and the manufacturing unit are located on the same premises in Undri. He wanted to make sparkling candles quickly and used the mixer-grinder after pouring two chemicals into it. However, instead of mixing, a chemical reaction occurred, followed by a blast.”“He has been running the unit for the last two years. Thankfully, no one else was present in the house or the unit at the time. The man, however, was admitted to a hospital in Undri. He suffered 50% burn injuries,” Nimbalkar said.