People stand near the site of explosion of a chemical factory in Bijnor district, about 443 km northwest of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, India, Sept. 12, 2018. At least six people were killed and several others injured Wednesday in a cylinder blast inside a chemical factory in northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, officials said. (Xinhua/Stringer)

NEW DELHI, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed and several others injured Wednesday in a cylinder blast inside a chemical factory in northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, officials said.

The blast took place inside the factory in Bijnor district, about 443 km northwest of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh.

"This morning six labourers were killed and several others injured after a methane cylinder blasted at a chemical factory on Kotwali road here," sub-district magistrate Bijnor told Xinhua over telephone. "The blast triggered a huge fire in the factory."

Reports said the cylinder blasted when the labourers were welding the leakage in a tank.

According to officials, 11 workers were present inside the factory at the time of blast.

Following the incident, police and disaster response force personnel rushed to the spot to carry the injured to the hospital and retrieve the bodies.

The district administration has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Accidental explosions are common inside factories in India as owners usually ignore safety standards.