NEW DELHI -- The death toll in Wednesday's explosion at a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit in India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh rose to 17, confirmed a police officer on Thursday.

More than 35 injured people were admitted to a local hospital, he added. However, some media reports stated that nearly 50 people were injured in the mishap, which was said to be the biggest in the past decade in the state.

A major fire was triggered by the blast near the reactor site inside the factory in Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone of Anakapalle district, about 30 km west of Vishakhapatnam, one of the main cities of Andhra Pradesh.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences at the deaths and announced a monetary compensation from the PM National Relief Fund for the deceased's families, and those injured.