Eleven killed, 13 injured in fire cracker explosion in Tiruvannamalai

Eleven people were killed and 13 others injured when fire crackers stored in a three-storeyed building exploded, bringing down the structure in Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu, police said today.

The explosion took place last night in a godown where crackers were stored by a stockist for the coming Deepawali festival.

Special teams comprising police and forensic experts have been formed to investigate the incident.

Chief minister M Karunanidhi expressed "shock" over the incident and ordered ex-gratia for the victims, an official press release said.

State government has announced cash relief of Rs one lakh each to the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs50,000 to the injured, who have been hospitalised in Tiruvannamalai and Vellore.