Bengaluru, Dec 5 (IANS): A research scholar died and three others were injured in a hydrogen cylinder blast at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) here on Wednesday, police said.

Research scholar Manoj Kumar (23) succumbed to severe burns after a hydrogen cylinder exploded in the Institute's aerospace department laboratory during an experiment, Additional Commissioner of Police B.K. Singh told reporters here.

Three of the victim's injured colleagues were rushed to a private hospital.

"The incident occurred late in the afternoon in the department lab when the team was conducting an experiment in hypersonic shock waves," said Singh.

Police have registered a case against the state-run institute to ascertain the cause of the blast.

"We will investigate the case after interrogating the department's faculty and those involved in the experiment to find out how the blast occurred," added Singh.

An Institute spokesperson said an internal inquiry would be carried out to find what caused the cylinder to explode.