Hyderabad:, Oct. 9 -- Six people, including four women, died and eight others were injured in a major explosion in a firecracker unit in Andhra Pradesh's B R Ambedkar Konaseema district on Wednesday afternoon, the police said.

The incident happened at around 12.30 pm at Lakshmi Ganapathi Fire Works factory at V Savaram village of Rayavaram block, when the workers were engaged in the manufacture of firecrackers for the upcoming Diwali festival.

District superintendent of police Rahul Meena told reporters that at least six people died on the spot and their bodies were charred completely beyond recognition. "We are verifying the identities of the dead bodies which have been recovered from the site," Meena said.

Factory owner Veligubantla ...