Cracker shed blast in Kerala: Death toll raised to 10, unit unlicensed

The fire craker unit which exploded yesterday taking a toll of 10 lives near Shornur town in Kerala had been functioning without a licence.

According to Palakkad district collector KV Mohan Kumar, the unit had not renewed its licence after 2008. Though its owner had applied for renewal of the lincence in 2008, it was rejected.

This fact, according to official sources, pointed to serious lapses on the part of the officials  responsible for closely monitoring units which use explosive substances as raw material.

While eight people were killed on the spot two died in hospital after an explosion ripped through the cracker unit at Thrangil near Shornur town yesterday.

The security implications of the case is all the more serious since the unit was located close to the railway track and a train had passed when the blast occurred,sources said.

Most of those killed were workers engaged for making crackers for the temple festivals starting in the area from mid-February.

The state government had ordered a police probe into the incident.