7 killed in pharma factory fire in India's Maharashtra

At least seven people were killed, and seven others injured in a devastating fire that broke out in a pharmaceutical factory in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, officials said Saturday.

Several people are reported missing in the fire.

The fire broke out on Friday following a blast inside the Blue Jet Healthcare factory in Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) Mahad in Raigad district, about 177 km south of Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra.

Following the incident authorities rushed fire department officials and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel to the spot to carry out rescue operations.

"Till today morning, seven bodies have been recovered," an official said. "Seven people who were injured have been hospitalized. Besides this, the search operation for the missing people is still underway."

Police have registered a case and ordered an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire.

Media reports said nearly two dozen people were present in the pharma factory at the time of the blast.