Seven persons were killed and sixothers injured in a fire at a fireworks unit godown near heretoday, police said.
Five persons, including the owner of the unit, died on thespot while two other succumbed to burns at a hospital,District Superintendent of Police Aswin Kotnis said.
Six persons who suffered serious injuries were undergoingtreatment at different hospitals, he told PTI.
Five of the deceased, including the owner, were women. The victims were involved in making fireworks when themishap occurred at the unit at Parakallur, 42 km from here.
The intensity of the explosion was so powerful that the entiregodown was razed to the ground.
Range DIG Sanjay Kumar visited the spot, police said,adding that a probe has been ordered into the incident.
The unit used to make fireworks largely for their use intemple festivals in the region.
On September 5, 39 people were killed in a devastatingblaze at a fireworks manufacturing unit near Sivakasi, thenational hub for crackers in Virudhunagar district.