PUDUCHERRY: A 45-year-old man was on Friday morning killed in a cracker godown blast near Manaveli in Ariyankuppam here.
Police identified the deceased as D Ameer Basha, of 5th Cross, Odaiveethi Street, Manaveli. Ameer, a plumber, originally from Villupuram district and had temporarily shifted to Manaveli.
Around 7.35 am, he went to an open land close to the cracker unit godown to attend to nature’s call. Suddenly, there was a blast at the godown and bricks and debris from its thatched sheds struck Ameer causing severe injuries on his shoulders, chest and hands. Passersby informed the police and rushed him to Government Medical College Hospital, but he succumbed on the way. He is survived by his wife.
The deafening sound of the blast affected the hearing of two persons, Ramesh and Suresh, according to locals. But this could not be confirmed as both did not turn up at hospitals in nearby areas. Ariyankuppam police inspector Pazhannivel and SI Selvaraj rushed to the spot and conducted an inquiry. Revenue officials, led by Tahsildar M S Ramesh, also visited the spot.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the dumping/piling up of manufactured crackers may have resulted in the blast at the godown. The heat due to this large-scale dumping is suspected to be cause of the blast.
Ramesh said the owner of the cracker unit, Gnanakrishnan Sekar, has been holding a licence for the unit since 1991 and had complied with norms. The unit and godown are separated by 45 metres. The unit is situated in a secluded place on the banks of Chunnambar. Ramesh added that the debris from the blast flew over 100 metres and hit the trunks of coconut trees that surrounded the unit.
A revenue official said the Controller of Explosives has been informed and their officials will inspect the spot within a day or two.
V Deivasigamoni, SP, revealed that a case has been registered under section 304A (Causing death by negligence) of the IPC, and section 3 and section 9 (causing explosion endangering life or property) of the Explosive Substance Act. He said the owner was absconding and a team has been formed to nab him. SSP (Law and Order) Omvir Singh Bishnoi and Collector S Sundaravadivelu and other officials inspected the area.