An explosion and fire at a pharmaceutical factory in the southern Indian state of Telangana has killed at least 12 people and injured several others, authorities said Monday.

The fire department found the charred bodies of 10 workers in an industrial area about 50 kilometers from the state capital Hyderabad, state fire department director Narayana Rao told the Associated Press.

Rao said two other workers suffered burns and were taken to hospital with signs of death. He added that the wreckage of the destroyed Sigachi Industries pharmaceutical unit was being dismantled to see if any more workers were trapped. About three dozen injured workers have been taken to hospitals, he said.

“It was an explosion in a spray dryer at the plant, which is used to process raw materials into fine powder for making medicines,” Rao said. 

According to the company's website, Sigachi Industries Limited is an Indian company engaged in manufacturing active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates and vitamin and mineral blends.