The explosion was reported at around 12 noon at Chamundi Explosives Company Limited, located on Amravati-Nagpur Road, about 15 kilometers from here.

Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singhal told the media that at least five people, including four women, lost their lives in the tragedy and police teams have reached the spot to investigate.

Eyewitnesses said the sound of the explosion was heard within a radius of several kilometres, followed by a fire and clouds of black smoke in the sky, alarming people nearby, even the nearby Hingna police station and fire brigade. The brigade sent teams to the factory.

The victims, who are feared to have died instantly in the blast, have been identified as 50-year-old Vaishali Kshirsagar, 20-year-old Prachi Phalke, 22-year-old Pranjali Morde and 27-year-old Monali Aloni.

The injured included several women, with at least one reported to be in very serious condition and all taken to a nearby hospital while the cause of the explosion is being investigated.

This is the second major industrial tragedy in Nagpur in the last six months.

In December 2023, nine people were killed in an explosion at the Solar Explosives Limited factory.