Indian fireworks factory blaze kills 20

A fire broke out at a fireworks factory in southern India today, killing at least 20 workers and injuring 15 others, a report said.

The cause of the fire at the factory near Sivakasi in southern Tamil Nadu state was not immediately known, Press Trust of India news agency reported.

The injured workers have been hospitalised, PTI said.

Sivakasi is 405 miles south-west of Madras, the capital of Tamil Nadu state.

Southern India has a large number of factories making fireworks, which are in great demand during religious festivals and weddings across India. They are also exported to Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh and other Asian countries.

Some illegal factories operate in homes because of the demand for firecrackers.