An explosion and fire at a chemical factory in western India has killed at least nine people and injured 64 others, officials said Friday.
The explosion of the plant’s water heater on Thursday sparked a fire that affected nearby factories and houses in Thane district of Maharashtra state, administrative officer Sachin Shejal told the Press Trust of India news agency.
According to Shejal, the fire was already out, but rescuers were searching through the rubble to find more bodies.
The cause of the explosion, which blanketed the area in a huge cloud of gray smoke, was under investigation.
The incident caused a powerful shock wave that caused damage to adjacent factories and broke the windows of nearby homes, Shejal added.
Police on Friday filed charges against the facility’s owners for manslaughter, including negligent handling of toxic substances.
The plant produced food coloring and used highly reactive chemicals that can cause explosions, the National Disaster Response Force said.
Fires are common in the country due to poor safety standards and lax compliance with regulations. Activists say builders often skimp on safety measures to save costs and have accused civil authorities of negligence and apathy.
