NEW DELHI 

Nine factory workers were killed, including six women, and three others were injured in an explosion at a fire factory on Sunday morning in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, officials said.

The explosion at the factory making explosives and drones for the armed forces claimed nine lives, including six women, in the Nagpur district of Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis stated on X.

He also promised to pay the deceased's relatives 500,000 Indian rupees (approximately $6,021) each.

Local media reported that three more people were injured and shifted to the hospital.

Ashish Srivastava, an official from the firm, told news agency Asian News International that the blast occurred on Sunday morning while the boosters were being built.

He said the workers had been evacuated from the building and that the situation was under control.