13 killed in Maha chemical factory explosion

Mumbai: At least 13 workers were killed and 58 others injured in chain explosions of nitrogen gas cylinders at a chemical factory in Dhule district of Maharashtra on Saturday morning, police said.

Prima facie, a leaking chemical from a barrel triggered fire which led to serial explosions in the factory in Waghadi village in Shirpur taluka around 9:45 am, a senior police officer said.

"Thirteen workers have been killed while 58 others were injured in the explosion of nitrogen gas cylinders at the chemical factory," he said.

At least 100 workers were present in the factory at the time of the incident, he added.

The officer said the rescue operation at the spot is still going on while the blaze has been brought under control.

Teams of fire brigade, police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are conducting the relief and rescue operations.