(Image source from: Times Now)

A blast at the Chattisgarh's Bhilai Steel Plant killed nine workers and injured 14 on Tuesday, according to police.

The explosion at the plant of the state-owned Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) occurred at about 10.30 a.m., the police said.

The explosion took place in a gas pipeline connected to the coke oven section of the plant in Bhilai town, located around 30 km away from the Chhattisgarh capital Raipur, Inspector General of Police (Durg Range) G.P. Singh told said.

According to preliminary information, more than 24 employees were working at the spot when the accident occurred, he said.

Police personnel and a rescue team rushed to the spot, Singh said, adding that all the victims were being taken to a local hospital.

Superintendent of Police of Durg district, Sanjeev Shukla said nine people were killed in the incident.

A statement issued by the SAIL as well put the death toll at 9 and said 14 were undergoing medical treatment.

It said there was a fire in gas pipe line of Coke Oven Battery Complex No. 11 during a scheduled maintenance job.

The fire has been controlled, the SAIL said.

"All resources have been mobilized to provide adequate care to the injured," the statement said.

As per SAIL's website, the Bhilai Steel Plant is India's sole producer and supplier of world class rails for the Indian Railways, plus 260 metre long rails, and a leading producer of a sizable variety of wide and heavy steel plates and structural steel.

-Sowmya Sangam