19 killed in firecracker factory blast in India

At least 19 people were killed and
dozens hurt in a blast at a firecracker factory in India, authorities said
Saturday.

The blast on Friday afternoon in Virudhunagar district was 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 was likely to go up
in the next few hours.

“So far 34 people have been injured and are undergoing treatment. Some of
them are severely burnt,” he said.

Kannan said there were around 74 people in the factory at the time of the
incident.

According to media reports, the factory was being run illegally. News
portal The Newsminute said the owner was missing and that the police were
still investigating the cause of the accident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced compensation of 200,000 rupees
($2,700) to the families of the deceased.

AFP