Mumbai, June 6: Three workers were killed and 49 injured in a blast sparked off by a fire at the Reliance-owned IPCL’s petrochemical facility in Raigad’s industrial town of Nagothane, about 94km from here.

According to a statement by IPCL (Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd), a fire broke out in a section of the LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene) plant at the factory around 11.20am, setting off the explosion.

Over 200 workers were in the plant when the accident took place. As many as 52 people were injured, of whom three succumbed to burn injuries.

Raigad collector Ramesh Survade said: “The exact cause of the fire and explosion has not been identified yet. An investigation has been ordered. The director of industrial safety and health and the company will carry out a detailed investigation to find out what caused the accident.”

Those who died have been identified as IPCL employees Suresh Padavkar and Prasad Vakde, and contract worker R. Shingade.

Twenty-five of those injured were taken to Harkissondas Hospital in central Mumbai while 17 were admitted to Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital at Panvel. Four others were taken to a hospital at Nagothane.

Survade said the petrochemical manufacturing facility has been cordoned off and sealed. An IPCL statement said the plant was shut down for maintenance.