Seven killed in illegal fireworks blast

on 13/11/2012 09:02:37

At least seven people have been killed and several others injured by an explosion at an illegal fireworks factory in northern India.

Police official Arun Kumar said the blast happened late last night in Auriya, a small town in India's Uttar Pradesh state.

At the time, employees were working overtime packing the last batches of fireworks before the Hindu festival of Diwali today.

Mr Kumar said it was not immediately clear what caused the blast, which also destroyed two nearby homes.

He said the owners did not have a licence to run the factory.

He added that eight police officers have been suspended for failing to close the factory, which was located about 160ft (50m) from a police station.