MUMBAI: Eight workers were killed in an explosion at an ordnance factory near Nagpur. Seven people were injured in the accident that happed Friday morning. The incident happened at Bhandara in Maharashtra. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari confirmed the information of the accident. He said the death toll in the factory explosion was only preliminary.

The blast occurred in the LTP section of the factory at around 10:30 am, said district collector Sanjay Kolte. The collector added that fire brigade and medical teams have been deployed at the accident site. The roof of the LTP collapsed during the explosion, trapping around 10 workers. Three of them were rescued alive and one died on the spot. An official said that work is underway to remove the debris using an excavator.

Locals said the sound of the explosion was heard from a distance of about five kilometers. Videos and pictures of heavy smoke coming from the factory have already been circulated on social media. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also reacted to the incident.