Virudhunagar, April 19 -- The death toll increased to 23 in a fatal accident at a firecracker manufacturing unit in the Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu, officials confirmed on Sunday.

Speaking to ANI, District Collector NO Sukhaputra said that a second blast during rescue operations injured 13 personnel, adding that of the 23 dead, 19 bodies have been identified, 16 women and 3 men. Six injured victims remain in the ICU.

District Collector of Virudhunagar said, "There have been 23 deaths so far in that incident. Of the 23 deaths, 19 bodies have been identified; 16 of them are women, and 3 are men. Six injured are in the ICU."

"While we were carrying out the rescue operation, a second blast occurred," Sukhaputra said. "As a result, ...