Seven killed in India explosion

At least seven people have been killed in an explosion in a house where people were making firecrackers ahead of a festival in eastern India, police said.

Two others were seriously injured in the explosion in Balasore district in Orissa state on Sunday evening.

The blast happened when people were making crackers illegally inside a house in a village, police say.

Such incidents are not uncommon ahead of the popular festival of lights during which crackers are exploded.

The police said a portion of the house collapsed on a group of people after the blast increasing the number of casualties.