Nine people have been declared and several others injured after an explosion in a firecracker factory at Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu on Friday. The injured were rushed to the Rajah Muthiah Medical College Hospital after the blast, which had left the entire building completely damaged. Upon hearing the news, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased. 

An investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the explosion, which killed five of the dead on the spot, among whom included the owner of the unit, while the remaining four succumbed to their injuries while being taken to the hospital. Prior to the blast, the persons inside the factory were powdering the explosive material used to make fireworks, reports say. 

Located in the Kurungudi village of Kattumannarkoil area in Cuddalore and 190km away from state capital Chennai, the firecracker factory is reportedly one among the many in the district. Tamil Nadu is known to be the hub for firecrackers as buyers from across the nation purchase from various factory outlets in the state, the most prominent being, Sivakasi. Furthermore, there are reports stating the fireworks unit had been investigated a couple of years back for carrying out operations without the renewal of its licence. This isn't the first incident of a blast in the fireworks unit as four persons were killed three years back.