MUMBAI: Eight workers were killed in a blast at a munitions factory in western India on Friday, with several others still trapped inside the building.

The explosion happened in Bhandara, around 800 kilometres east of Mumbai, and caused the factory’s roof to collapse.

“In an unfortunate incident today, a blast at Bhandara munitions factory killed at least eight people and injured seven others,” minister Nitin Gadkari said. Gadkari, a lawmaker from Maharashtra state where the explosion occurred, offered his condolences.

Maharashtra’s chief mini­ster Devendra Fadna­vis said earlier on X that up to 14 workers had been trapped after the blast and emergency rescue operations were underway.

Indian Defence Minis­ter Rajnath Singh said he was “deeply saddened” by the blast.

“My condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Singh said on X.

Industrial disasters are common in India, with experts blaming poor planning and lax enforcement of safety rules. Nine workers were killed in a 2023 blast at a factory in Maharashtra that manufactured drones and explosives.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2025