TENKASI: A man died in an explosion at the firecracker manufacturing unit that he was illegally running at Kokkukulam village near Sankarankovil on Sunday. Wife of the deceased, identified as Sakthi Eswaran, sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment.
According to sources, “Eswaran was a native of Thiruthangal near Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district, while Ramalakshmi is from Kokkukulam of Thiruvengadam taluk in Tenkasi district. Eswaran had earlier worked with a Sivakasi-based firecracker unit. Based on the experience, the couple started their own unit in a tile-roofed house at Kokkukulam a few months back. The crackers produced were sold during temple festivals and family functions. They also maintained a stock of raw materials in the house. On Sunday morning, there was an explosion at the house, which caused it to collapse. The blast also caused damage to about 10 houses nearby.”
While Eswaran died on the spot, Ramalakshmi sustained injuries, sources said, adding that the fire and rescue personnel doused the fire. “District Collector AK Kamal Kishore, Superintendent of Police TP Sureshkumar, and Deputy Superintendent of Police M Sudheer inspected the spot and conducted an inquiry,” sources said. The Sankarankovil police have registered a case.