One person was killed and at least six others were injured in a blast at an explosives manufacturing factory in Chhattisgarh's Bemetara district on Saturday.
A district administration official said that the explosion took place in the unit located near Pirda village in Berla development block.
Police and rescue teams rushed to the site soon after being informed of the blast, an official added.
“While six persons injured in the blast were taken to Dr BR Ambedkar Memorial Hospital Raipur for treatment, one person was brought dead,” Public Relations Officer of the hospital Shubhra Singh told news agency PTI. The injured persons are undergoing treatment, she added.
Bemetara Collector Ranbir Sharma said fire brigade teams and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel have been deployed at the blast site.
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma spoke to news agency ANI and said, "There has been a blast in an explosive factory in Bemetara. Investigation is underway. The Superintendent of Police is on the spot."
Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao also said that the entire administration is present at the spot, adding that he is in "constant touch" with the team. "Fire engines have been called, and relief & rescue teams are also on the spot," Sao added.
The incident comes days after a boiler blast in a chemical factory in Maharashtra's Thane killed nine persons and injured over 60 others.
The blast had taken place at Amudan Chemicals located in Phase 2 of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area in Thane's Domibivli on Thursday.
Yasin Tadvi had said the blaze triggered by the blast spread to three adjoining factories and thick plumes of smoke and fire could be seen from a long distance.
The blast was so loud that it could be heard from a kilometre away, a witness had told news agency PTI. Glass windows of an adjoining building suffered cracks, while many houses in the vicinity were damaged due to the explosion, the witness added.
(With agency inputs)
