DINDIGUL: Two persons were killed after an explosion at an unlicensed cracker unit in Dindigul on Saturday night.
According to sources, residents of Avichipatti in Natham taluk heard a deafening sound from the cracker unit on Saturday evening, following which they informed the police.
The police found two persons — G Kannan (42) and M Muneeswaran (30) of Sivakasi — dead inside the unit, with massive injuries to their head, neck and arms.
The bodies were sent to the Dindigul government hospital for postmortem examination. The owner of the unit, K Selvam (54), is absconding. A police team has been formed to trace Selvam.
Allegedly, the unit was operating without approval for the past several months.
According to an official statement, Chief Minister MK Stalin extended his condolences to the bereaved families, and announced a compensation of Rs 3 lakh to the family of both deceased.
Another worker succumbs to injuries
Mayiladuthurai: Toll in the firecracker unit blast in Mayiladuthurai on Saturday went up to three with the death of S Lakshmanan at a hospital on Sunday. Chief Minister MK Stalin condoled the deaths and announced a solatium of Rs 3 lakh each to the families of the three deceased persons, and Rs 1 lakh to the two injured persons.