Six killed in explosion at India space center

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, February 24, 2004

Six killed in explosion at India space center

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At least six people were killed and three others seriously injured in an explosion on Monday evening in Sriharikota, about 120 km from Chennai in Andhra Pradeshin southeast India, according to official sources.

The incident happened about 4 p.m., when the propellant segment for testing was being prepared for shift from one building to another, said India Space Research Organization (ISRO) Secretary SK Das.

The Solid Propellant Space Booster (SPROB) produces composite solid propellant for rocket motors of the Sriharikota High Altitude Range (SHAR), now renamed Satish Dhawan Space Center.

ISRO has ordered a high-level inquiry into the fire in the building of the SPROB plant at the Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota, Press Trust of India quoted Das as saying.

ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair rushed to Sriharikota to supervise operations at the center, where fire fighters are battling the blaze caused due to the highly inflammable solid propellant.

Das said about three persons who received burns have been rushed to Chennai for treatment, while rescue operations were on to find three more who were in the building.

Das said not more than six to seven people were present in the building, when the accident took place. The building suffered extensive damage due to the fire, but could not quantify the loss, he added.

The ISRO in Sriharikota has a satellite launch pad, a technical center for rocket testing and assembly, and a range of other facilities for launch control, satellite tracking and remote sensing. It began operations in 1971 for the launch of rockets of India's domestic space program.

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