Kallakurichi(Tamil Nadu): Five people were killed and more than 10 others critically injured in a major fire mishap at a cracker shop in Sankarapuram town in Kallakurichi district, nearly 262 km from Chennai, on Tuesday evening, police said.
According to initial reports, the fire which broke out at the shop where crackers for the Deepavali festival were being stocked and sold, engulfed the nearby shops resulting in the blast of gas cylinders at a bakery. The bursting of four LPG cylinders at the bakery caused the fire to spread further and flames of the massive inferno were seen far away from the accident site, locals said adding that the fireworks shop was functioning in the bazaar.
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The deceased, including a roadside flower vendor, died on the spot, police said adding that efforts were on to rescue people who are still trapped inside the cracker shop. Fire tenders were engaged in dousing the inferno for more than two hours.
Kallakurichi district Police Superintendent, Zia ul Haq and Sankarapuram legislator, Udhayasuriyan, are supervising the rescue operations.
All the injured, who are employees of the cracker shop, bakery and mobile phone shop, were admitted to hospital.
