Seven women died and several others were injured in a firecracker factory blast in Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu on Friday, said the police.

The fire cracker unit was located in Kurunkudi village in Cuddalore district and the blast happened in the morning. The explosion killed five women, including the unit owner, instantaneously and also brought down some buildings.

Out of the four injured women who were admitted to hospital, two succumbed. Police and fire tenders rushed to the spot and carried out rescue operations.

Cuddalore SP M Sree Abhivan told News 18 that an initial inquiry has open that mishandling of chemicals may have resulted the blast. The accident happened at a time when the state government has allowed industries to resume work with 100 per cent capacity amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

(With inputs from IANS)