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8 dead, 3 missing as massive fire breaks out in Maharashtra pharmaceutical factory

As per initial probe, the fire may have started due to a short circuit

NDRF personnel during a search and rescue operation after a fire broke out following an explosion at a pharmaceutical company, in Maharashtra's Raigad district | PTI

Eight bodies have been recovered till Saturday afternoon following the fire that broke out at a pharmaceutical company in Maharashtra's Raigad district a day ago, while search for three missing persons continued, an official said.

The blaze at Blue Jet Healthcare in MIDC Mahad in Raigad district, some 170 kilometres from Mumbai, started at 11am on Friday, the National Disaster Response Force official added.

"While four bodies were found till 7am, another four were recovered till 5pm. These are part of the 11 persons who had gone missing following the fire. Search operations with personnel from local agencies as well as NDRF for the remaining three continue," he said.

As per initial probe, the fire may have started due to a short circuit, leading to barrels filled with chemicals at the site exploding, which further intensified the blaze, the official said.