Blast in ordnance factory near Ooty

CHENNAI - At least five workers were missing after a blast Thursday evening in the defence ministry’s cordite factory in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri district, police said.

“The blast occurred around 3.30 p.m. It has damaged some buildings and debris are being removed. Actual casualties can be ascertained only after removal of the debris,” a police official of the Coonoor division told IANS over phone.

According to police, ten people were injured in the blast and window panes of nearby buildings also shattered due to the shock wave.

The factory, located in Aruvankadu 12km from Ooty in Tamil Nadu, makes nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, propellants for small arms ammunition, propellants for gun and artillery ammunition and propellants for engine starters for aircrafts.

The facility has various sheds and the blast occurred in building number two.

Rescue works are in progress, police said.