India chemical factory fire claims 8 lives

NEW DELHI, June 04 (UNB): At least eight people were killed and more than 20 others injured in a major fire at a chemical factory in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, police said.

The fire broke out following a boiler explosion at the factory in the state's Hapur district, some 80 kms from Delhi.

"Some 15 fire tenders have been pressed into service. So far, eight charred bodies have been recovered by the firefighters," a police officer told the local media.

Hapur range inspector general of police Praveen Kumar said that the injured were admitted to a nearby hospital. "The condition of some of them are serious."

State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took to Twitter to convey his condolences to the bereaved families.