Jhansi, March 21 -- A 37-year-old man died in a massive explosion at the Indo Gulf Industries Limited (IGIL) factory in Babina, on Friday evening. The blast - felt in a 10-kilometre radius - triggered panic across nearby villages.

The explosion was so severe that parts of the factory's terrace were blown off, while houses in surrounding villages reported cracks in walls and doors.

According to officials, the blast occurred at the factory located in Nayakhera village on Sukwa Road, which has been manufacturing industrial explosives and detonators for decades.

Police suspect that lightning following a sudden change in weather, may have caused the explosion by igniting stored explosive materials.

However, the exact cause will be determin...