Five workers were killed in a boiler explosion at a sugar factory in Maharashtra's Nagpur district on Saturday afternoon. The boiler blast took place in Manas Agro Industries and Infrastructure Ltd in Nagpur.

The incident took place around 2:15 pm near a biogas plant of the company situated in Bela village in Umred tehsil.

The deceased were identified as Mangesh Prabhakar Naukarkar (21), Liladhar Wamanrao Shende (42), Vasudeo Ladi (30), Sachin Prakash Waghmare (24) and Prafull Pandurang Moon (25), all residents of Wadgaon village.

Police said Sachin Waghmare worked as a welder while others were helpers.

Thick smoke billowed out of the plant following the explosion.

All five workers sustained grievous burn injuries and died on the spot, the police said.

Superintendent of Police Rakesh Ola visited the spot following the incident, officials said.

Police is investigating the reason behind the blast.

(With PTI inputs)