Four killed in explosion in cracker manufacturing unit

Four persons were today killed and four others injured in an explosion in a cracker manufacturing unit at Angalakurichi, near Pollachi in the district, police said.
Initial reports, reaching police headquarters, suggested that leak from a gas stove caused a spark, which spread to the crackers and other explosive materials, resulting in the explosion, police said.
Four bodies have been recovered and police suspect some more persons might have been caught under the debris of the house, which collapsed under the impact of the explosion
Police is investigating whether the unit had a proper licence for manufacturing crackers.
More than 20 houses in the vicinity also suffered damage due to the impact of the explosion, police said.