KARAIKUDI: Locals residents were scared by the heavy smoke that filled the area after a pipeline burst at Tamil Nadu Chemicals Products Limited (TCPL) at Koviloor near Karaikudi on Thursday.
Though nearly 200 workers escaped without injuries, the schools and colleges declared a holiday after the incident, fearing health risks. The pipe exploded because of pressure. A major mishap was avoided as the pipeline’s safety valve worked properly. The factory which has been running near the village for nearly 30 years, made sodium hydrosulphite, a dying chemical for textile units, official sources said.
Meanwhile, top officials spoke to TCPL management who agreed to close the unit for a week. “The unit will reopen only after an expert committee certified the safety,” officials said.