Seven people were killed and five others critically injured after a major fire broke out at a cracker factory near Indore, India today, police said. The factory and four adjacent houses at Multani Nagar in Rau were completely gutted down in the fire before the situation could be brought under control, they said. During rescue work, it was found that seven people had died after suffering severe burn injuries. Five others who were critically injured were rushed to a nearby hospital in Indore, police said. According to eyewitnesses, a loud blast was heard from the factory, which was followed by crackers shooting in all directions. Within minutes, four more houses adjoining the factory caught fire and huge flames rose from them too, police said.