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Blast kills 8 at India illegal fireworks factory

13 November 2012 19:59 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. At least eight people, including six children, have been killed when a massive explosion ripped through an illegal fireworks factory in northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police say, APA reports quoting Press TV.

The powerful blast took place in the southwestern district of Auraiya on Monday night. Rescue operations continued until Tuesday morning.

“Three girls and three boys under the age of 14 and two women died on the scene,” the area’s police chief Ramlal Pandey said.

He further stated that a number of others also suffered injuries in the explosion and were taken to a hospital.

The cause of the blast, which destroyed several nearby houses, was not immediately known.

The blast came ahead of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, being celebrated on Tuesday.

In a similar incident on September 5, some 40 people were killed and 60 others injured in a blaze at a fireworks factory in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

The fire, which also triggered off several huge explosions, took place at the Om Siva Shakti fireworks factory in the town of Sivakasi.