Two killed, nine injured in cracker explosion

Two persons were killed and nine others injured when a parcel containing fireworks exploded soon after it was offloaded from a passenger train at Sholavandan station, 30 kms from Madurai on Tuesday.

Two persons were killed and nine others injured when a parcel containing fireworks exploded soon after it was offloaded from a passenger train at Sholavandan station, 30 kms from Madurai on Tuesday.

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The blast occurred just as the Mayiladuthurai-Tirunelveli passenger train from which the crackers were offloaded was leaving the station, a top police official said.

He said the head of one of the victims was blown away and the other was charred beyond recognition due to the impact of the blast.

The explosion also blew away the asbestos roof of the platform about 20 feet from the ground and shattered the window panes of the moving train, he said.

One of the victims has been identified as a betel-nut and fruit seller on the platform, while the identity of the other could not be ascertained, police said.

The parcel contained large number of crackers and it had not been handled carefully leading to the blast, police said, ruling out any terrorist angle.

Police seized another parcel containing similar type of crackers.