NAGPUR: Police on Friday arrested the director of an explosives factory and its manager, an official said, a day after an explosion at the unit near Nagpur city killed six workers.

Chamundi Explosives Pvt Ltd director Jai Khemka (49) and factory manager Sagar Deshmukh were arrested and will be produced before a court here during the day, he said.

The factory is located at Dhamna village under Hingna police station area, about 25 km from Nagpur city.

The blast occurred around 1 pm on Thursday. Of these, a total of nine injured were admitted to two private hospitals in the city.

Police had earlier said that five women and one man died during treatment.

He said most of the victims were working in the packaging unit of the factory when the blast occurred.

According to Hingna police station officials, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been booked under sections 286 (negligent conduct in relation to explosive substance), 304 (A) (causing death of any person by any carelessness or negligence) and 338 ( A case has been registered under IPC (causing death of any person in relation to explosive substance). On Thursday night, a case was registered against the director and manager of the factory for causing serious injury by negligent act.

He said that after this, director Khemka and manager Deshmukh, residents of Ram Nagar, Nagpur, were arrested.