Dozens die in India fireworks blaze

At least 33 people perish as they prepare to celebrate Hindu festival of Diwali.

fireworks blaze india
The fire was in a former rice mill converted to store fireworks for the Hindu festival of light [APTN]

Fireworks risk

The building had originally been a rice mill, but had been converted into a wholesale firework outlet ahead of the festival season.

Fires at warehouses and factories involving firecrackers are common in India because of what critics say are lax industrial safety standards.

Earlier this year, a fire at a fireworks factory in Tamil Nadu killed at least 17 people.

Two years ago, 32 people died when a blaze broke out a firecracker factory in the eastern state of Bihar.

Source: News Agencies