Jorhat, Feb 20: A significant explosion, followed by a fierce fire, occurred late Friday night at the CSIR–North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), a leading research facility in India.

The explosion took place in the institute's central warehouse, which housed a substantial amount of chemical materials and various research items.

Witnesses reported hearing over ten explosions in rapid succession, creating shockwaves that alarmed local residents.

Fire and Emergency Services were dispatched promptly after the incident was reported.

"Approximately 10 to 15 fire engines from Jorhat, Mariani, Teok, and Dergaon responded to the emergency. Fortunately, no employees were harmed, although one colleague suffered minor injuries that have since been treated," stated a fire service official.

After several hours of relentless firefighting efforts, the flames were finally subdued in the early morning hours.

"We heard a tremendous explosion around 2 am. The cause remains unclear. I noticed that staff prevented media access to the warehouse, which raises concerns about the situation," claimed a local resident.

The resident also mentioned a previous similar incident that led to a CBI investigation, where some individuals were detained. "This explosion seems suspicious as well. A thorough investigation is necessary, and the government should take appropriate action," he added.

Currently, the precise cause of the fire and explosions is still under investigation, and officials have not yet assessed the full extent of the damage.