Hyderabad: Thirteen people were feared killed in a powerful blast that ripped through a detonator factory at Kukatpally on the city outskirts this evening, police said.

The massive explosion occurred at Indian Detonators Limited (IDL) plant at 3:40 p m, trapping 13 workers inside the factory premises.

Five charred bodies have been recovered so far, police added.

The accident was attributed to short circuit.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is rushing to the blast site.

At least four other workers, who were in the vicinity of the blast area, received splinter injuries, police sources said.

Under the impact of the blast, one of the sheds in detonator fuse area in the factory premises has collapsed, the Cyberbad Police Commissioner, Mahender Reddy told reporters.

Forensic experts are rushing to the blast site, he said.

PTI