<p>Mumbai: At least eight persons were killed and seven others were injured in an accidental blast inside an ordnance factory in the Bhandara district of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra on Friday. </p><p>The condition of five of the victims is said to be serious. </p><p>The cause of the mishap is not yet known. </p>.<p>At the time of going to Press, rescue and relief operations are still underway in the huge complex housing the Ordnance Factory Bhandara. </p><p>The facility - in the Satpura Mountain ranges - manufactures single-base propellant, double base propellant (ballistite), double base propellant (rocket), high explosives and its compounds. </p><p>The factory, considered a pioneer in explosives and chemicals, is located in Jawahar Nagar tehsil of Bhandara.</p><p>The incident took place around 1030 hrs, reports reaching here said. </p><p>The impact of the blast could be heard seven to 10 kms away from the accident site and objects at the factory were flung several metres away, eyewitnesses said. </p><p>The smoke billing out from the site could be seen from a distance away. </p><p>Several relatives of employees were seen at the factory gate wanting to know about their near and dear ones. </p>.Fire breaks out at Maha Kumbh Mela due to cylinder blast, no casualty reported.<p>Bhandara district’s Collector Dr Sanjay Kolte and Superintendent of Police Noorul Hasan are camping at the site. </p><p>Teams from Bhandara and Nagpur and specialised teams from State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are conducting the rescue and relief operations. </p><p>“There has been an explosion in the Ordnance Factory Bhandara…as per the preliminary information eight persons have died and seven others were injured,” Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, who is an MP from Nagpur, said. </p><p>Dr Kolte said at least 13 to 14 people were working in the unit at the time of the incident.</p><p>Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said rescue teams are deployed at the site. “All efforts are being made to provide assistance to those who are affected,” he added.</p><p>Maharashtra Chief Minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/devendra-fadnavis">Devendra Fadnavis </a>said workers were trapped due roof collapse caused by an explosion at the ordnance factory in Bhandara. “Bhandara Collector and SP are at the site and ensuring immediate rescue measures and all required support. SDRF and Nagpur Municipal Corporation team is deployed for the rescue operation. District administration is also coordinating with multiple teams. Medical assistance teams are ready too,” he said. </p><p>Bhandara-Gondiya MP Dr Prashant Padole demanded that there should be a proper probe into the incident. </p><p>Bhandara MLA Narendra Bhondeklar said that the incident is very serious. “The impact could be heard from a long distance away,” he said. </p><p>The NDRF has brought in specialised machines and equipment to conduct the R&R operations and some people are feared trapped in the debris. </p>
<p>Mumbai: At least eight persons were killed and seven others were injured in an accidental blast inside an ordnance factory in the Bhandara district of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra on Friday. </p><p>The condition of five of the victims is said to be serious. </p><p>The cause of the mishap is not yet known. </p>.<p>At the time of going to Press, rescue and relief operations are still underway in the huge complex housing the Ordnance Factory Bhandara. </p><p>The facility - in the Satpura Mountain ranges - manufactures single-base propellant, double base propellant (ballistite), double base propellant (rocket), high explosives and its compounds. </p><p>The factory, considered a pioneer in explosives and chemicals, is located in Jawahar Nagar tehsil of Bhandara.</p><p>The incident took place around 1030 hrs, reports reaching here said. </p><p>The impact of the blast could be heard seven to 10 kms away from the accident site and objects at the factory were flung several metres away, eyewitnesses said. </p><p>The smoke billing out from the site could be seen from a distance away. </p><p>Several relatives of employees were seen at the factory gate wanting to know about their near and dear ones. </p>.Fire breaks out at Maha Kumbh Mela due to cylinder blast, no casualty reported.<p>Bhandara district’s Collector Dr Sanjay Kolte and Superintendent of Police Noorul Hasan are camping at the site. </p><p>Teams from Bhandara and Nagpur and specialised teams from State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are conducting the rescue and relief operations. </p><p>“There has been an explosion in the Ordnance Factory Bhandara…as per the preliminary information eight persons have died and seven others were injured,” Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, who is an MP from Nagpur, said. </p><p>Dr Kolte said at least 13 to 14 people were working in the unit at the time of the incident.</p><p>Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said rescue teams are deployed at the site. “All efforts are being made to provide assistance to those who are affected,” he added.</p><p>Maharashtra Chief Minister <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/devendra-fadnavis">Devendra Fadnavis </a>said workers were trapped due roof collapse caused by an explosion at the ordnance factory in Bhandara. “Bhandara Collector and SP are at the site and ensuring immediate rescue measures and all required support. SDRF and Nagpur Municipal Corporation team is deployed for the rescue operation. District administration is also coordinating with multiple teams. Medical assistance teams are ready too,” he said. </p><p>Bhandara-Gondiya MP Dr Prashant Padole demanded that there should be a proper probe into the incident. </p><p>Bhandara MLA Narendra Bhondeklar said that the incident is very serious. “The impact could be heard from a long distance away,” he said. </p><p>The NDRF has brought in specialised machines and equipment to conduct the R&R operations and some people are feared trapped in the debris. </p>