The explosion took place at around 12.30 p.m.

Six persons were killed and at least three critically injured in the explosion in Nirani Sugar Factory, owned by former minister Murugesh Nirani, in Kuloli village of Mudhol taluk in Jamkhandi, Karnataka, on Sunday. The police has officially put the death toll at four.

According to reports, a heavy explosion took place inside the methane production unit of the factory at around 12:30 p.m. The explosion was enormous enough to turn the multi-floor building into rubble instantly, scattering huge pieces of metal and concrete all over the place, according to eye witnesses.

Though the cause of the explosion is yet to be ascertained, Mr. Nirani told media persons that the cause is suspected to be the failure of the safety valve. According to him, around eight workers work in a shift in the unit usually. However, it is unclear how many of them were inside the unit at the time of explosion.