Seven people were killed and five critically injured in a major fire in a cracker factory near Indore today, police said. The factory and four adjacent houses at Multani Nagar in Rau were completely gutted in the fire before the situation was brought under control, they said.
According to eyewitnesses, a loud blast was heard from the factory, which was followed by crackers shooting in all directions. Within minutes, four more houses adjoining the factory caught fire and huge flames rose from them too, police said.
Seven people died after suffering severe burn injuries while five others who were critically injured were rushed to a nearby hospital in Indore, police said.