AT LEAST 39 people have died in a huge explosion after a chemical reactor exploded in India.

Dozens are still missing after the horror blast sparked an inferno at the drug factory and left workers trapped inside.

GV Narayana Rao, director of the Telangana fire disaster response service, confirmed the factory had completely collapsed due to the explosion.

He said: “We are still clearing the debris and once we are all done with the clearing, only then we will be able to assess if any other body is still remaining under the debris or if it is all clear.”

Police in Telangana said more than 140 people were working in the plant at the time of the blast with more than 60 directly impacted.

Terrified plant worker Chandan Gound, 32, added: “I came out [of the plant] to use the restroom and heard a loud blast.

“It sounded like a bomb blast. I came out and saw fire. A part of the fire also spread towards me. I jumped the wall and escaped.

“Many of them [working inside] managed to escape, but a large number were trapped and could not come out.”