Mumbai, March 1 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday described the explosion at an explosives factory in the Nagpur district as "extremely tragic and unfortunate," and said a detailed investigation has been ordered into the incident.
At least 17 people were killed and 18 others were injured in the explosion at the detonator packing unit of SBL Energy Limited, a mining and industrial explosives manufacturer, in Raulgaon, Katol tehsil, officials said.
Orders have been issued for a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion, Fadnavis said in a statement.
The CM said he is in constant contact with the local administration, and that the district collector and superintendent of police rushed to the spot immediately after the blast.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with officials from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and the Defence Information System for Security (DISS), were at the site, and rescue operations were being carried out at full speed, he said.
The CM expressed condolences to the victims and their families.
The injured were promptly taken to Nagpur and were being provided the best possible medical care, he said, and prayed for their speedy recovery.