Seventeen workers of a cracker factory were burnt to death in a fire accident in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. Around 40 others have suffered burn injuries.

The accident occurred at a licensed cracker-manufacturing unit at Vadakampatti, around 40 kilometres from Madurai. The cause of the accident is yet to be established.

Many of the injured are critical including a few school students who worked there after returning from school.

Union Minister from Madurai M K Azhagiri is expected to visit the place on Wednesday.