At least 13 workers were killed and 58 injured in chain explosions of nitrogen gas cylinders at a chemical factory in Dhule district of Maharashtra on Saturday morning.

Prima facie it appears that leaking chemical from a barrel triggered the fire, which led to a series of explosions at the factory in Waghadi village around 9.45am, a senior police officer said.

“Thirteen workers have been killed while 58 were injured in the explosion of nitrogen gas cylinders at the chemical factory,” he said.

At least 100 workers were present at the factory at the time of the incident, the officer added.

The officer said the rescue operation was in progress and that the fire had been brought under control.

The deafening sound of the explosions triggered panic in the area, prompting many people to run out of their homes.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of each of the deceased.

Union home minister Amit Shah has spoken to Fadnavis and taken stock of the situation.

The factory, Rumit Chemsynth Pvt Ltd, manufactures a chemical used for making medicines.

The police officer said the presence of a number of nitrogen gas cylinders and barrels containing chemicals had increased the severity of the blasts.