India, April 20 -- Relatives of at least 23 workers killed in a blast at a firecracker manufacturing unit at Kattanarpatti in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district were awaiting DNA tests to get their bodies charred beyond recognition, even as forensic experts were at the site on Monday as part of the investigation into the explosion.

A relative of one of the workers said doctors told them that the bodies would be identified based on DNA tests because they were completely unrecognisable.

Mariselvam, who lost three family members, said normally the manufacturing unit remains closed on Sundays, but higher wages offered for Sunday work prompted the workers to work that day. "About 30 workers were working on the verandah at the unit, instead o...