Six people, including three children, were killed on the spot when a country bomb exploded accidentally on Tuesday night at Tsunami colony in Idinthakarai village, close to the Kundankulam Nuclear Power Plant.

Police said that those killed included women and three children all aged below five years. The Superintendent of Police, Vijendra Bidari, said that several people in the area were missing. Three people who were severely injured were admitted to the government hospital at Nagercoil.

Three houses were razed under the impact of the blast. Rescue teams and fire tenders have been rushed to the spot to clear the debris and extricate people believed to be trapped Police said that the explosion occured in a house which is believed to hide more than a hundred bombs.