Ratnagiri, Nov 29 (IANS): One person died and another was injured when dacoits opened fire while looting the Central Bank of India's Jakadevi branch in Ratnagiri district Thursday, police said.

The heist took place around 1.30 p.m. when at least five armed men barged into the bank pointing guns at the staff and a few customers, an official of the Ratnagiri rural police control said.

When some staff and the peon on duty offered resistance, they were fired upon, resulting in the death of one and serious injuries to the peon.

Canteen employee Santosh S. Chavan, 35, died of bullet injuries while bank peon, Suresh Gurav, 52, is battling for life in a hospital.

The dacoits made off with around Rs.800,000 from the cash counter, a bank official said.

The district police have erected barricades and checkposts on all roads leading to Mumbai and Goa in a bid to nab the dacoits who sped off in a waiting SUV after committing the crime.