Tamil Nadu ordnance factory blast toll five

CHENNAI - The five people who were reported missing in the blast at defence ministry’s cordite factory in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri distrct Thursday, were confirmed dead Friday. One body was recovered while the other four were torn apart, officials said.

Those killed were identified as B. Anandan, P. Gopi, R. Subramani, T. Jeyaraj and M.S. Balasubramani.

The blast occurred in the dough making unit of the ordinance factory.

The factory, located in Aruvankadu, 12 km from Ooty, makes nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, propellants for small arms ammunition, propellants for gun and artillery ammunition, and propellants for engine starters for aircrafts.

The facility has various sheds and the blast occurred in building number two.