NEW DELHI, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- As many as five women died and three persons, including two women and a man, injured when a fire broke out in a firecracker factory in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu Friday, confirmed a local fire department official to Xinhua over phone.
The mishap took place in a firecrackers manufacturing unit in the state's Madurai district, added the official.
The fire has been brought under control, and rescue and relief work completed.
Tamil Nadu is famous for firecrackers manufacturing units across the length and breadth of the state. Every year people indulge in bursting of firecrackers on the occasion of the festival of lights Diwali, which falls on Nov. 14 this year, besides other festivals.
Fire incidents in such firecrackers manufacturing units are quite common ahead of the Diwali festival every year. Most of these units are said to be operating without valid licences and government permissions. Enditem
