With two women succumbing to burn injuries in hospital, the toll in the cracker unit fire at Kalayarkurichi near here has risen to seven, officials said today.
The two, one of whom hailed from Bihar, died late last night and the condition of five injured is stated to be serious.
The officials said the fire that swept through parts of the factory yesterday was caused due to alleged mishandling of chemicals and all the deceased were women workers.
The cracker unit was owned by one Kanakaprabhu who was making a fancy variety of crackers. About 200 workers were employed in the factory. Most of the workers escaped as they were having their lunch, away from the site where the fire broke out, they said.
Sivakasi is famous for its cracker manufacturing units.