NEW DELHI – At least 19 people were killed and dozens hurt in a blast at a firecracker factory in India, said authorities today.
The explosion yesterday afternoon in Virudhunagar district is one of the worst such incidents in years in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
Local official R. Kannan told AFP that the death toll will likely go up.
“So far, 34 people have been injured and are undergoing treatment. Some of them are severely burnt.”
There were 74 people in the factory at the time of the incident, he said.
According to media reports, the factory was being run illegally.
News portal The Newsminute said the owner has gone missing, and police are still investigating the cause of the blast.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a compensation of 200,000 rupees (RM11,137) to the victims’ families. – AFP, February 13, 2021
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