MUMBAI: Indian fire fighters and rescue personnel work at the site of an explosion at a chemical factory in Dombivli. — AP

MUMBAI: An explosion tore through a chemical plant yesterday, killing three workers and injuring up to 35 others in India's financial capital of Mumbai, officials said. The cylinder blast occurred around 11:00 am (0630 GMT), sparking a major fire at the manufacturing unit of Indian firm Herbert Brown Pharmaceutical & Research Laboratories in Thane district, just north of Mumbai.

"Three people have been declared dead and 30 to 35 were injured in the factory explosion," Sukhada Narkar, a spokesperson for Thane police, told AFP of the accident in Thane's Dombivali area. "Saddened to know about the unfortunate & tragic incident that took place at Dombivali," tweeted Devendra Fadnavis, the chief minister of Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital. India has a history of fires and other accidents at factories, sometimes because of a lack of safety measures and inspections. - AFP