Three workers, including a woman, were killed and 10 seriously injured in an explosion at a cracker manufacturing unit, 20 km from here, today.
Sub-Inspector Raju said the crackers exploded following a fire caused due to friction among the chemicals as the workers were preparing them.
The unit, functioning from a small thatched hut at Aduragaram, was gutted while three other nearby huts were also damaged.
Fire force personnel put out the blaze after battling it for an hour.
The injured have been admitted to the Government hospital here.
Police said the unit was not a licensed one, adding, more than four gunny bags containing explosive materials have been seized.
The unit owner is absconding, police added.
