A fire at a licensed firecracker factory in southern India has killed 20 people, with six others injured, as authorities investigate the cause of the blaze.
VIRUDHUNAGAR: A fire at a firecracker factory in southern India has killed at least 20 people and injured six others.
The blaze broke out at a licensed facility in the Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu state, according to local police chief N. Shreenatha.
Shreenatha confirmed the death toll to AFP, noting that rescue operations were still ongoing at the site.
The cause of the fire remains unknown as authorities continue their investigation into the incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the event as “deeply distressing” in a social media post offering his condolences to the families of the victims.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin also expressed his “immense sorrow” over the “tragic” deaths in a statement on X.
Industrial accidents are a frequent occurrence in India, often attributed to poor safety compliance and lax regulatory enforcement.
This tragedy follows an explosion at a power plant in central India earlier this week that killed more than 20 people.
It also comes just a month after another fire at a fireworks factory in western India claimed 17 lives.
