Eight killed in cracker unit blast in Kerala

Eight persons were killed and several others injured, some seriously, when an explosion ripped through a fire cracker unit.

Palakkad: Eight persons were on Tuesday
killed and several others injured, some seriously, when an
explosion ripped through a fire cracker unit near Shornur town
in Palakkad district, police said.

They said 12 persons were working in the unit when the
explosion occurred. Eight bodies, charred beyond recognition,
have been recovered, they said.

The unit was located in an open space close to Shornur-
Palakkad railway track on which, railway sources said, a train
had passed when the blast occurred. They said no passenger
was, however, injured.

Locals said they heard a deafening noise and felt some
shock-waves. "We initially thought it was an earthquake, as
the area has sometimes experienced mild tremors", said a local
farm worker.

The fire brigade, police and local people were engaged in
the rescue work. The seriously injured were rushed to the
Thrissur Medical College Hospital.

As the festival season is around the corner, the unit,
owned by a leading supplier of crackers for festivals in
the area, had engaged about 30 workers in the last few
weeks, local people said.

District administration sources said they were
ascertaining if the unit had a proper licence.

PTI

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