Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday confirmed that the death toll from the explosion at the Ordnance Factory in Bhandara, Maharashtra, has risen to 8.
Speaking at an event, Gadkari paid tribute to the victims by observing a one-minute silence.
"A big blast has occurred in the Ordnance Factory in Bhandara. In the incident, eight people have died and seven are injured, as per preliminary information," he stated.
Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
"Deeply saddened to know about the blast at the Ordnance Factory at Bhandara, Maharashtra. My condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured," Singh posted on X.
The district administration, in collaboration with the defence forces, is leading the rescue operations. Medical assistance teams have also been deployed to support the injured.
The blast occurred in the factory located in Jawahar Nagar, Bhandara, early Friday morning. According to District Collector Sanjay Kolte, the explosion caused a roof collapse, though the exact cause of the incident remains unknown.
Upon receiving reports of the explosion, firefighters and ambulances were immediately dispatched to the scene. Maharashtra Congress Chief Nana Patole criticized the government following the incident, calling it "a failure of the Modi government."
Further updates on the situation are awaited.