Two killed as cracker bundle explodes in TN railway station

Two persons were killed and four injured when a bundle of fireworks offloaded from a train exploded at Cholavandan Railway station, 15 km from here, today, police said.

The blast occurred just as the Mayiladuthurai-Tirunelveli passenger train from which the crackers were offloaded was leaving the station, a top police official said.

The impact of the blast was so intense that the head of one of the victims was blown away while another person was charred beyond recognition, the official said. The injured, including a fruit vendor, have been rushed to the Government Hospital here.

The blast caused panic among the passengers waiting on the platform, who ran helter-skelter.

Railway officials told PTI that the blast occurred near the station master's room.

Forensic and explosives experts visited the spot.