Hapur: Twelve people died in a fire at a chemical factory in Uttar Pradesh's Hapur district. Police and fire-engines have rushed to the spot and rescue operations are on.
The accident happened after a boiler burst at an industrial facility in Dhaulana, around 60 kilometres from New Delhi, police spokesman Surendra Singh told Reuters.
The factory is located adjacent to a CNG pump. Rescue and relief measures were taken up at the site, according to officials.
The impact of the explosion was so intense that the roofs of some of the factories located in the vicinity were damaged. It took three hours for the fire tenders to douse the blaze in the factory.
Superintendent of Police of Hapur Deepak Bhuker said 12 people had died and 21 were injured and undergoing treatment.
"The factory was given the licence to manufacture electronic items. And now, it is a matter of probe what exactly was going on here. This is a sad incident. Forensic teams have reached here and are collecting samples," District Magistrate of Hapur Medha Roopam said.
"Our efforts are to ensure that the injured persons get the best medical treatment. Some of them have been referred to Safdarjung Hospital," she added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives.
"The accident in the chemical factory of Hapur, Uttar Pradesh is heart-wrenching. I express my condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in this. The state government is actively involved in providing treatment to the injured and all possible help," Modi tweeted.
The chief minister directed that the incident be probed by experts.
In a statement issued in Lucknow, Adityanath asked the district administration to extend all possible help to the families of the victims.
He also said that necessary treatment should be provided to the injured.