At least seven people were killed and six others injured on Saturday when a powerful explosion levelled a fireworks factory near the riverbank in Leghari Goth, Latifabad No. 10, Hyderabad, police said.

The blast, heard from several kilometres away, brought down the building, leaving workers trapped under the debris.

Rescue teams, police, and Rangers reached the site within minutes and launched an operation, recovering more bodies as rubble was cleared.

Officials cautioned that the death toll may rise.

Three of the injured remain in critical condition at Civil Hospital, Hyderabad.

Witnesses reported panic in the neighbourhood as the shockwave sent bricks and debris flying hundreds of feet, leaving some nearby residents slightly injured.

The explosion also sparked a fire inside the facility.

According to Hyderabad SSP, the owners possessed a licence for manufacturing fireworks, but it had been issued for a different location.

Rescue efforts continued late into the evening as authorities worked to ensure no one remained trapped inside the collapsed structure.