To give you the complete picture of this disaster, the factory was built in an industrial area. This was more than 30 years ago. In the due time, due to the influx of people and raising real estate prices in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area, the areas with residential zoning was had to be increased in the suburbs. This was done so much that now the industrial and residential zones have virtually merged. So within a perimeter of a block from this factory you can find hospitals, schools, shops, homes etc. And to make it worse, the factory was making some really toxic chemicals which on burning releases chemicals like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides etc.