An explosion and fire at a fireworks factory on Thursday killed at least 32 people in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, news reports said.
At least 40 people were injured in the accident near Bihar’s capital, Patna, but the toll was expected to rise as rescue workers continued to remove bodies from the rubble and battle the blaze at the plant and three of its warehouses.
Most of the victims were workers at the factory.
Exploding firecrackers ignited gas cylinders also stored at the site at Khusropur village, 35km east of the state capital, Patna, district magistrate B Rajendra told the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency.
Police said a huge quantity of explosive materials, gas cylinders and powerful firecrackers were in the storage facility that was reduced to ashes.
An electrical short-circuit is believed to have sparked the fire at a time when more than 100 people were in the depots.
Official sources told PTI firefighters reached the blaze ”very late”.
India is the frequent site of deadly accidents at fireworks factories, which often operate illegally and do not follow safety measures. — Sapa-DPA, AFP