Three killed, 5 injured in cracker explosion in Erode

The tragedy occured when the crackers were unloaded from a vehicle.

Police officials at the site of explosion in Erode on Wednesday. The vehicle (in picture) and five houses were completely damaged in the impact.

Three persons were killed and five others were injured when a parcel containing firecrackers that were unloaded from a vehicle exploded at Pillaiyar Street in Shastri Nagar here on Wednesday.

The accident occurred at 6.30 a.m. when a seller, who had procured the crackers for Deepavali, was unloading the crackers from a mini van.

The police said that one of the cracker bundles exploded and the fire spread to other bundles. In the impact, the vehicle and five houses were completely damaged. The extent of the damage is being assessed, they added.

Identify of the deceased unknown

Three persons were killed on the spot and the bodies were taken to the hospital. The police are yet to confirm the identity of the three dead. The injured, who are both workers and residents, were admitted to District Headquarters Hospital.

Superintendent of Police, S. Sakthi Ganesan, told The Hindu that an investigation is on to ascertain whether licence was obtained for storing the crackers by the seller.