A firecracker factory storing a large number of firecrackers caught fire in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu on Saturday.
The explosion lasted for more than two hours due to huge stockpiles prepared ahead of the upcoming Diwali festival.
Fortunately, no workers were present at the time and no casualties were caused.
However, the explosion was so powerful that several nearby houses were damaged and shock waves spread across a large area. At least six rooms within the factory were completely destroyed.
The fire rescue team responded quickly and is actively carrying out firefighting work. Officials suspect the fire may have been started by a sudden spark when a truck arrived to load firecrackers.
According to Virudhu Nagar district collector, based on preliminary findings, permission has been granted for the factory. Further investigation is ongoing.