Tamil Nadu firecracker factory blast claims lives of nine women

CUDDALORE: Nine women died in a blast at a fireworks manufacturing unit at Kattumannarkoil in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu on Friday morning.
Police said C Gandhimathi, proprietor of the fireworks unit, and eight woman workers reached the unit in the morning for manufacturing fireworks for Diwali season. The unit had a stock of fireworks manufactured earlier.
They were performing puja in a small building before resuming work. An accidental blast razed the building killing five women, including Gandhimathi, on the spot. Four women died while undergoing treatment in hospital .
The unit has been functioning for the past 30 years. Police said the proprietor renewed the licence of the unit last week.
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