NEW DELHI - At least 16 people were burnt to death in a fire caused by an explosion at a major steel plant in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh Wednesday night, said local media Thursday.

In the worst-ever accident in the history of Viskhapatnam Steel Plant, 16 workers , including some officers, were burnt alive following a huge explosion in the oxygen plant in the steel melting shop Wednesday night, when officials were conducting a trial run of the plant.

Meanwhile, about 20 workers were injured. The death toll is likely to go up as nobody knows how many workers stayed close to the oxygen plant at the time of the accident.

A huge fire raged across the plant and the plant was completely gutted.