A blast at a fireworks unit near Sattur has triggered a major rescue response, with emergency teams searching the site amid fears of workers being trapped inside.
Unofficial sources put the death toll at eight, but officials have not confirmed this. Only three of the deceased, all from Motihari district in Bihar, have been identified so far.
According to factory staff, mechanics, Sheetla Mishra (55), Shivam Dubey (32), and Rajkishor Tiwari (52), had descended into the cabin to repair a motor.
The blast was so powerful that it was heard up to five kilometres away, sources said, adding that the death toll is likely to go up.
