Palakkad:
Nine persons were killed today and two injured seriously when an explosion ripped through a fire cracker unit near Shornur town in Palakkad district, police said.
Eight bodies, charred beyond recognition, were recovered from the site. Another person died in hospital.
The unit was located in an open space close to Shornur-Palakkad railway track, on which, railway sources said, a train had passed when the blast occurred. However no passenger was injured, sources said.
The Government ordered a police probe and announced emergency relief of Rs 10,000 each for the families of the victims.
Locals said they heard deafening sounds thrice in quick succession and felt some rattling sound. "We initially thought it was an earthquake, as the area has sometimes experienced mild tremors," said a local farm worker.
The seriously injured were rushed to the Thrissur Medical College Hospital.
As the temple festival season is around the corner, the unit, owned by a leading supplier of crackers for festivals in the area, had engaged about 30 workers in the last few weeks, locals said.
District administration sources said they were ascertaining if the unit had proper licences.