One person was killed and several others injured when a tanker on Monday night exploded before plunging into a river near Pimpalner town in north Maharashtra, police said.

The mishap occurred when the tanker hit an electric pole on a bridge, skidded and exploded, damaging nearby vehicles before falling into Panzara river, they said.

Locals fished out a badly burnt body of a youth from the river, police said, adding that the toll is expected to increase further.

Irked over the delay by authorities in reaching the spot, an irate mob burnt three police vehicles and damaged another.

Six other vehicles -- a car, two auto-rickshaws, two trucks and a tempo, besides a godown caught fire following the explosion, police said, adding that locals had complained of irritation in their eyes.

Fire tenders from Dhule and other nearby cities have been rushed to the spot. Water from the Lathipada dam has been released into Panzara river to douse the burning tanker, police said.