9 labourers killed in blast at Nagpur explosives unit

At least nine workers were killed and four others sustained injuries in a blast at an explosives manufacturing factory in Nagpur district of Maharashtra on Sunday morning, police said.

- Pradip Kumar Maitra

The incident took place at 9 am in a cast booster unit of the Solar Industries, a facility that manufactures explosives for the armed forces, in Bazaargaon area, around 40km from Nagpur city, a senior police officer said.

"The tragedy occurred during the packing in the cast booster plant this morning," Nagpur (rural) superintendent of police (SP) Harsh Poddar said, confirming nine fatalities. Police have cordoned off the area and all company workers were safely evacuated, he added.

Satyanarayan Nuwal, chairman of Solar Industries, said the incident occurred during the packaging of explosive products. "I don't have the exact casualty count, but I've been informed that eight to nine people died in the blast," Nuwal said, adding he was in constant contact with company officials regarding the situation.