Plant fire kills two in India

A short circuit is suspected as the cause of a fire at a drug-making plant in Indian that has killed two. Eight others were injured; four of them critically.

Chemicals stored on site likely fueled the blaze at the Meghna factory in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, according to a local press report. The plant does some of the manufacturing for generics maker Ranbaxy.

The fire marks the second accident this month at an Indian drug-making facility. As reported earlier, gas inhalation from a leak at a Rinilife Science plant in Indore killed two instantly and sent six others to the hospital in critical condition.

And in northern China last August, ammonia escaping from a burst pipe sickened more than 200 people and caused the evacuation of homes within a mile of the plant.

- here's the Meghna report
- see our Rinilife coverage