NEW DELHI, June 30 (Xinhua/APP): At least eight people were killed and 26 others injured, some seriously, on Monday in a reactor blast inside a chemical factory in the southern Indian state of Telangana, police said.
The blast took place in the Pashamylaram industrial area of Patancheru, Sangareddy district, about 48 km northwest of Hyderabad, the capital city of Telangana.
Police suspect the death toll may increase, given the critical condition of some of the injured.
Reports said around 150 workers were present inside the factory at the time of the blast.
Preliminary investigations carried out by the police revealed that a reactor exploded during routine operations at the factory, triggering a massive fire and thus prompting emergency response teams to rush to the site.
Television images showed columns of thick black smoke rising from the factory.
Senior police official V Satyanaryana told the media the firefighters were trying hard to bring the blaze under control.