Three people were killed and four others were injured in a blast at a storage facility in Bengaluru's New Tharagupet area on Thursday.
Bengaluru South Deputy Commissioner of Police Harish Pandey told reporters that the blast took place in a transport godown next to a puncture shop. He said the blast was due to some ''unstable chemical'' that was an industrial consignment.
"Some 80 odd boxes (of explosives) were stored here, we have to check how many exploded," Mr Pandey told reporters. "Three people were killed including two in the puncture shop while four were injured," he said, adding that the victims have been identified.
Mr Pandey said one of the victims who died was a labourer who was handling the boxes and the blast has caused "serious dismemberment".
"It looks like a handling-related explosion. We will have the exact details once the forensics team arrives here," he added.
He said it was neither a cylinder blast nor a blast caused by crackers or short circuit. "There were no pieces of compressors also," he said, adding that the origin of the blast is being investigated.
The storage facility belonged to a transport company which was being used as a transit godown, the DCP said, adding, "Obviously, they are not allowed to put explosives in a transit godown."
The fire is now under control.
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