Singrauli: At least eight persons were killed and 40 injured in blasts in two private factories manufacturing explosives used for coal mining in the Bairhan Industrial Area in Singrauli on Sunday evening.
Police said the first explosion occurred in the Ideal Explosives Industries around 6.30 pm. The explosion had its impact in the neighbouring Rajasthan Explosives Private Limited as well.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Singrauli Anurag said that eight persons were killed and about 40 others were injured. Earlier reports said that 100 persons were injured. It was not immediately known what caused the explosion.
Officials feared that at least 20 to 25 persons may still be trapped in the debris nearly five hours after the explosions. The injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals, they said.
The explosion was so severe that both the factories were reduced to rubble, eyewitnesses said.
Relief and rescue operations have commenced in the Industrial Area.
Singrauli District Magistrate T Narihari said explosives manufactured from chemicals brought to the factories are used for mining activities in the nearby coalfields. The factories are legal and operate in the industrial area in a cluster, he said.
According to reports, ammonium nitrate gas was leaking from the site of the accident. Electricity also went off at the Bairhan industrial area.