At least 25 people have been killed in an explosion at a firecracker factory in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with four others seriously injured. The blast occurred at the Vanaja Fireworks Industry in Virudhunagar on Sunday evening. The factory was supposed to be closed but about 50 workers were inside at the time, officials said.
A second explosion occurred while rescue operations were on, injuring 13 more people, though none sustained serious burns, District Collector NO Sukhaputra told ANI news agency. The cause of the blast is not yet known and an investigation is under way. An eyewitness, who is being treated for injuries, said that around 25 people were working in the veranda in front of the factory when the fire broke out, damaging at least three rooms and reducing parts of the building to rubble.
Rescue operations were significantly slowed down as firecrackers continued to explode inside the building. A complaint has been filed against the factory owner and foreman, both of whom are absconding, police said, adding that four special teams are set up to trace and arrest them. Efforts to identify the victims continued, with 22 of the 25 dead having been identified so far, most of whom are women. Reports indicate that the force of the blast left several bodies charred beyond recognition.
Accidents at fireworks factories in India are not uncommon, with the industry under scrutiny over safety standards. The factory's operations have raised questions about possible safety violations, especially since the district collector stated it should not have been operating on a Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as deeply distressing and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin stressed the need for all necessary assistance to the families of the victims.
A second explosion occurred while rescue operations were on, injuring 13 more people, though none sustained serious burns, District Collector NO Sukhaputra told ANI news agency. The cause of the blast is not yet known and an investigation is under way. An eyewitness, who is being treated for injuries, said that around 25 people were working in the veranda in front of the factory when the fire broke out, damaging at least three rooms and reducing parts of the building to rubble.
Rescue operations were significantly slowed down as firecrackers continued to explode inside the building. A complaint has been filed against the factory owner and foreman, both of whom are absconding, police said, adding that four special teams are set up to trace and arrest them. Efforts to identify the victims continued, with 22 of the 25 dead having been identified so far, most of whom are women. Reports indicate that the force of the blast left several bodies charred beyond recognition.
Accidents at fireworks factories in India are not uncommon, with the industry under scrutiny over safety standards. The factory's operations have raised questions about possible safety violations, especially since the district collector stated it should not have been operating on a Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as deeply distressing and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin stressed the need for all necessary assistance to the families of the victims.
