VIRUDHUNAGAR: The heavy explosion on Saturday at a firecracker unit in Sinthapalli village near Sattur damaged at least 25 houses in the surrounding areas.
According to official sources, the blast occurred at Thirumurugan Fireworks, a licensed factory, around 6:50 a.m. when crackers that were dampened due to rain on the previous day were loaded onto a lorry. Since no employees were at the unit at the time of the blast and the lorry driver fled from the spot as soon as the crackers started exploding, none were injured.
Owing to the storage of more crackers in the unit ahead of the Diwali season, the crackers were continuously exploding for more than two hours. Although several teams of Fire and Rescue Service personnel had reached the spot to douse the fire, the persistent blasts delayed the operation for hours, and the team completely extinguished the fire around noon. Nearly six rooms and the lorry were gutted in the fire.
District Collector VP Jeyaseelan said, “Since huge amounts of chemicals were present in the unit, the vibrations were felt in the nearby households, causing damages to the roofs and walls of more than 25 houses. A team of officers was deputed to review the damages in houses, and measures are being taken to provide financial assistance.” He further added that a probe will also be commenced to investigate violations in the unit.
Meanwhile, the residents alleged that the unit has been illegally manufacturing crackers during the night hours, and they have submitted petitions to the district administration to stop the functioning of the unit.
Following the blast, due to the vibrations experienced in their households, the residents fled to a nearby location. A case is yet to be registered.