Mumbai, March 6 At least 11 people, mostly workers, were injured on Friday in an explosion at a chemical factory in Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra, about 250 kilometers from here, police said.
Four of those injured in the explosion, caused by a fire in a reactor at the Dr Khan Industrial Consultants (DKIC) unit in Lote Parshuram MIDC (chemical zone), are in serious condition, an official said.
"The incident took place at 2 pm. Workers noticed a fire in the reactor, which soon exploded. Eleven people present at the time sustained injuries. Four have suffered severe burn injuries and have been admitted to the burns center in Navi Mumbai. The rest are in a hospital in Lote Parshuram," he said.
Three fire engines were deployed to tackle the blaze, he said, adding that the situation was brought under control two hours later.
DKIC is a leading manufacturer of various specialty silica-based chemicals and chemical intermediates, serving a wide range of industries, including steel, textiles, paints, and electronics.