The blast in Sangareddy in India’s southern Telangana state yesterday turned parts of the building into rubble.

State chief minister Revanth Reddy visited the site today, with a video released by his office showing piles of twisted metal in the wreckage of the factory.

Reddy’s office said a committee was investigating the cause of the explosion, but a government official, who asked not to be named as they were not authorised to speak to media, said that “at least 35 people” had been killed.

“Searches at the site are still going on,” the official added.

Industrial disasters are common in India, with experts blaming poor planning and lax enforcement of safety rules.

“The incident has unfortunately resulted in the loss of human life,” factory owner Sigachi Industries, said in a statement.

The company supplies pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics and chemical industries.