VIRUDHUNAGAR: Ten people, including four women, were killed and six others sustained burn injuries in an explosion at a firecracker unit near Vembakottai in Virudhunagar district on Saturday afternoon.
The incident occurred around 12.30pm at Ashok Sparklers Factory at Gundayirappu village, when workers were involved in filling firecrackers with chemicals. Residents of neighbouring villages said they heard series of explosions. "Of the 74 rooms in the unit, four were completely gutted, and one room was partially damaged," sources said.
Multiple fire-tenders and fire and rescue service teams were rushed to the spot and the blaze was put out after hours of struggle.
“Preliminary inquiry revealed that there was overcrowding in the chemical mixing room, and the explosion could have been triggered when chemicals were being handled,” Virudhunagar collector V P Jayaseelan said.
“It could have been due to a human error. We have ordered a thorough inquiry by an inter-departmental team," the collector said.
CM MK Stalin expressed his condolences and announced a solatium of Rs.3 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs. 1 lakh each to the injured. The CM also instructed Ministers KKSSR Ramachandran and CV Ganesan to inspect the spot and carry out relief measures.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF to the families of the deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000 each, the PM said.
According to sources, the deceased were identified as S Rameshpandi (28) and A Karuppasamy (23) of Kiliyampatti; R Ambika (30) and V Santharubi (47) of T.Mettur; M Muthu (28), M Gurusamy (52), and M Muniyasamy (44) of Keelanmarainadu; K Aperaj (62) of Nachiyarpatti; T Murugajothi (48) of Ramathevanpatti; and R Jeya of Alankulam. Three others, S Sivakumar (29) of Nachiyanpatti, M Muthukumar (30) of Rediyapatti, and S Rengammal (55) of Thoppakulam, who suffered 80% burn injuries are under treatment at Sivakasi Government Hospital.
Officials from the state revenue department and Petroleum and Explosive Safety Organisation (PESO) inspected the facility. While officials refused to share further details about the incident, Alankulam police officials said a case has been registered and a probe is underway. Opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami has urged the state government to carry out inspections in firecracker units to ensure strict compliance with safety measures.
More than 100 people, including family members of the victims and villagers, staged a protest seeking higher compensation and government jobs for family members of the victims.