Seven workers were killed and 15 others injured following an accidental explosion in a fireworks unit near R.R. Nagar in Virudhunagar district on Friday.
The condition of three of them is said to be critical.
Friction while making crackers for aerial display caused the accident at the unit at Thiagarajapuram at around 11 a.m., Collector V. K. Shanmugam said.
Two working sheds were completely razed in the impact of the explosion. Human flesh was strewn as far as 100 feet from the place of explosion.
The blast triggered a fire in five of the adjacent working sheds, damaging them partially.
Drying of manufactured crackers on the ground in the vicinity of the sheds in violation of the provisions of Explosives Act caused the collateral damage, Divisional Fire Officer A. Karunakaran, said.
The Vachchakarapatti police have registered a case against the owners and the foreman of the unit.
The Collector has ordered an enquiry into the accident by the District Revenue Officer.
