At least 10 people have been killed and another 15 injured in a fire at an explosives factory located in Murugapatti, about 40 km from Tirichirappalli, in Tamil Nadu on Thursday.
The police said that the cause of the fire is not known yet. Three fire tenders and 10 ambulances were rushed to the spot.
According to media reports, the fire broke out in one of the manufacturing wings of the explosive-making factory and then spread to the other areas. The waves of the blast were felt two kms away from the site, following which police officials stopped traffic on Arthur Road. People residing in the surrounding areas also started panicking due to the noise.
The police said that the fire has almost been doused, but rescue operations faced obstacles due to heavy rain in the area that has been cordoned off.
The police added that around 15 mini-units in the licensed factory, which has been in operation for over 25 years, were manufacturing explosives for deepening and widening wells in the rocky belts when the fire broke out. Seven sub-units were making chemicals. The smoke was stinking and extremely toxic, the police further added.
The blast caused the factory building to collapse. Officials from the factory claim that there were 25 to 30 people working in the factory when the blast happened. But according to locals, there were 50 people inside, the Press Trust of India reported.
