NEW DELHI, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 people were killed Tuesday in explosions at two firecracker units in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, police said.
The blasts took place in Virudhunagar district, about 547 km southwest of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu.
The initial explosion occurred at Kanishkar Fireworks, located in Rengapalayam in Virudhunagar after employees at a shop (which adjoins the factory) allegedly showed a demonstration of their firecrackers to customers, while the second blast took place at another factory located in Kichanayakanpatti village near Sivakasi when chemicals for fireworks were being manufactured.
"Thirteen workers were killed at a fireworks unit in Rengapalayam. A spark from the crackers fell in a room where workers were packing crackers, triggering a blast," a police officer said. "In the second accident, a worker was killed in a blast at a fireworks unit in Kichanayakanpatti." ■