8 dead in India's Maharashtra ordnance factory explosion

An explosion at an ordnance factory at Maharashtra's Bhandara district in India claimed the lives of eight workers and left seven others injured on Friday morning. 

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari confirmed the casualties during an event later in the day. "In Bhandara, at the ordnance factory, a major mishap has taken place, resulting in the death of eight people and injuries to seven others. This is preliminary information," he said, urging attendees to observe a minute's silence to honor the victims of the "unfortunate incident." 

The blast occurred in the factory's LTP section around 10:30am, according to District Collector Sanjay Kolte. Firefighters and medical teams were dispatched to manage the situation. 

The explosion caused the roof to collapse, trapping more than a dozen workers. In the initial rescue efforts, three workers were pulled out alive, while one was found dead. An excavator was deployed to clear the debris, the official added. 

The intensity of the blast was so severe that it was heard up to 5 km away. Videos from the site showed thick smoke billowing from the factory. 

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured that senior officials were on-site and rescue teams from Nagpur were en route to assist.

Source: with inputs from Indian media