Three people were killed on Sunday evening when a tanker exploded during an asphalt heating operation at a plant in Mokshi village, located in Savli taluka of Vadodara district, Gujarat, police said, reported the PTI.

According to an official from Bhadarwa police station, the explosion occurred while the tanker was being heated in an attempt to dislodge and empty residual asphalt into barrels. The heat caused a build-up of gas pressure inside the tanker, which subsequently blew up, killing three people who were nearby, as per the PTI.

Among the deceased were the driver and cleaner of the vehicle, along with a labourer, the official stated.