Eight killed, several injured in fireworks factory blast in TN

Atleast eight workers, including five women were killed, and several others injured, few of them seriously, in a major explosion triggered by an inferno at a private fireworks factory in Sengamalapatti village near Sivakasi in this Southern district of Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

Police sources said the fire broke out when the workers were engaged in mixing highly inflammable chemicals meant for making fancy variety crackers.

Series of powerful explosions razed down seven warehouses, where a huge stock of finished crackers and chemicals were stored.

Preliminary investigations revealed that friction while handling the chemicals triggered the fire.

However, the exact reason for the explosion is under investigation.

Fire tenders from Sattur, Vembakottai and Sivakasi rushed to the factory and extinguished the blaze after a couple of hours of battle.

The injured were admitted to the Government hospital at Sivakasi.

Senior revenue and police officials rushed to the spot and supervised the rescue operations.

Further investigation is underway.