At least eight people were killed and 15 others injured after a fire broke out at a firecracker storage facility in southern India on Tuesday, police said, marking the second such deadly incident in three days.
According to local authorities, the incident occurred in the Kerala state’s Thrissur district, where rescue operations have now been completed.
District police chief Nakul Rajendra Deshmukh said the fire left 15 people injured, including two in critical condition, adding that the cause of the blaze is being investigated.
Local media reported that the fire erupted during preparations for a Hindu festival.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident in a social media post, offering condolences to the families of the victims.
The tragedy follows another similar incident on Sunday in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, where at least 20 people were killed in a fire at a firecracker factory.
Industrial accidents remain frequent in India, often attributed to poor safety standards and weak enforcement of regulations.
Last month, another fire at a fireworks factory in western India claimed 17 lives, highlighting ongoing concerns over industrial safety practices in the country.
