Chennai, Aug 9
Three people were killed and one seriously injured when an explosion ripped through a house where firecrackers were being made near Vembakottai in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district on Saturday.
According to police, a group of workers was engaged in manufacturing firecrackers inside a house in the Vijayakarishalkulam area when explosives suddenly detonated.
The blast triggered a massive fire, which spread rapidly, causing the partially prepared crackers to explode in quick succession. The impact of the explosion left parts of the building in ruins.
Three people died on the spot, while another sustained severe burn injuries.
The injured person was rescued by the police and rushed to the Sivakasi Government Hospital for treatment.
Preliminary inquiries suggest that explosives were being handled without adequate precautionary measures. Officials from the Revenue and Fire Safety Departments have also been roped in to assess the damage and determine the cause of the blast.
Authorities have once again urged fireworks unit owners to strictly follow safety protocols and warned that strict action would be taken against violators.