KRISHNAGIRI: Eight people, including three women, died and 12 others sustained injuries in blasts in the godown of a firecracker shop in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri town on Saturday.

Seven of the eight deceased have been identified as cracker shop owner Ravi, his wife Jayashree, their daughter Rithika, their son Rithish, a hotel shop owner named Rajeswari and their neighbours Ibarahim and Imran.
The accident happened at Palayapettai area in the town. Around 9.45 am, the crackers kept in the godown started to blast one by one. “Fire spread to the cracker shop and other shops, including a hotel, and nearby houses,” said Krishnagiri district collector K M Sarayu. She said a shop and three houses collapsed, and people were trapped under the debris.

The collector said the exact number of people who got trapped under the debris was not ascertained yet.
The Krishnagiri town police and fire and rescue services personnel rushed to the spot and carried out rescue operations.
The injured, including two critically injured, were admitted to Government Hospital in Krishnagiri town.
A case was registered.