A deadly fire left 15 people injured, including two in critical condition, an official said.
- The cause of the fire is being investigated, according to the police chief.
- The blaze broke out during preparations for a Hindu festival.
- Indian Prime Minister expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
A firecracker storage facility in southern India caught fire on Tuesday, killing at least eight people, police said, marking the second such incident in three days.
Nakul Rajendra Deshmukh, police chief in Thrissur district of Kerala state, told AFP that rescue operations were “over” following the blaze, which also left 15 people injured, including two in critical condition.
The cause of the fire is still being determined, the official added.
Local media reported that the blaze broke out during preparations for a Hindu festival.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a social media post that he was “saddened” by the loss of lives and extended his “deepest condolences” to the families of the victims.
On Sunday, 20 people were killed in a similar fire at a firecracker factory in neighbouring Tamil Nadu state.
Industrial accidents are relatively common in India, often linked to poor safety compliance and weak enforcement of regulations.
Last month, another explosion and fire at a fireworks factory in western India killed 17 people.
