New Delhi, Jan 24 (EFE).- At least eight people were killed and seven injured in an explosion on Friday at an artillery factory in western Indian state of Maharashtra, officials said.
The blast occurred around 10:30 a.m. local time in the Bhandara district, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said.
“In Bhandara, at the artillery factory, a major incident has occurred, resulting in the death of eight people and injuring another seven,” said Gadkari, who hails from Maharashtra.
The explosion collapsed the roof of the building, trapping more than a dozen workers inside. Video footage showed thick columns of smoke rising from the site, with the blast reportedly felt up to 5 km away.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis noted in a post on X that “13 or 14 workers were trapped due to the roof collapse caused by an explosion at the ammunition factory in Bhandara.” Five workers were rescued unharmed.
Industrial safety in India often suffers due to aging infrastructure, poor maintenance, and corruption in the construction sector, creating hazardous conditions for workers, especially in informal sectors.
This incident follows a series of industrial accidents in recent months. On Jan. 4, six people were killed in a fireworks factory explosion in Tamil Nadu, while a flammable liquid leak at a chemical plant in Andhra Pradesh in August led to an explosion that claimed 17 lives. EFE
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