Six killed in Hyderabad factory blast

Hyderabad, Feb 8  Six employees were burnt to death when a reactor exploded in manufacturing unit of a pharamceutical firm in Maheswaram on the outskirts of Hyderabad on Monday, police said.

Two others were injured in the explosion that occurred in Asita pharma and drugs factory in Mankhal industrial area of Maheswaram in Ranga Reddy district around 6 a.m.

The explosion caused a huge fire. Six employees who were working near the reactor were burnt to death. The injured were rushed to a hospital.

The toll was initially put at four but the rescue workers later found burnt bodies of two more employees. The dead include man in charge of production block Murthy, 45, and quality controller Venkat, 28.

Four other deceased have been identified as Kosaram, 26, Dasru Rai, 24, Deva, 23, and Jogaram, 25.

The four hailed from Chhattisgarh.

Legislator from Maheswaram assembly constituency T. Krishna Reddy, who visited the factory, expressed grief over the tragedy. He demanded that the factory management pay Rs.20 lakh compensation each to the families of those killed.