Six die in Indian space centre blast

A powerful explosion ripped through India’s main space centre today, killing up to six people and seriously injuring three others.

Madhavan Nair, the head of India’s space programme, launched an inquiry into the fire at the solid propellant plant at the government’s Dhawan Space Centre, on Sriharikota Island just off the south-eastern coast.

He said there was no immediate setback to the space programme.

The fire killed six people and extensively damaged the building before it was brought under control tonight, said police in Andhra Pradesh state.

It wasn’t clear what started the blaze.

“The fire has been contained but we have not been able to enter the building yet. Some more people may be injured. We don’t know,” Nair said.

“As of now, this will not affect any of our immediate projects,” he added. “We are trying to assess the extent of damage.”

Three injured scientists were flown to the city of Madras, about 60 miles from the island. Two of the dead were labourers while officials said the others were technical staff.

The space centre is the main launch base of the Indian Space Research Organisation and has been used to launch several Indian, German, Korean and Belgian satellites.

The centre processes solid propellants used in its rocket and satellite programmes. It conducts ground tests and has launch pads for rockets.

India has looked increasingly into space in recent years, and top officials have vowed to put an Indian astronaut on the moon.

:: Pakistan is to test fire a long range missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, a government minister revealed today.

Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri declined to specify when the missile would be tested, or what was its exact range.

It could be the Shaheen 2 which has a range of more than 1200 miles but has never been tested.

Last year, Pakistan test fired the Shaheen 1, which has a range of about 435 miles, far enough to hit India’s capital, New Delhi, and other major targets.

Kasuri reiterated that Pakistan’s missile development program was for defensive purposes.