VIRUDHUNAGAR: Eight workers died and five others were injured on Tuesday morning after alleged mishandling of pellets by workers led to an explosion at Gokulesh Fireworks at Chinnakamanpatti near Sattur in Virudhunagar district.
At least 20 workers were at the unit at the time of the blast. The death toll may go up as two of the injured have suffered 100% burns. Seven escaped without injuries, sources said.
CM MK Stalin extended his condolences to the families of the victims and has ordered a solatium of Rs 4 lakh to be paid to the families of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh to those severely injured, and Rs 50,000 to those with minor injuries.
The deceased were identified as K Lakshmi (25) of Mathiyasenai, K Vairamani of Soolakarai, C Chellapandi of Anupankulam, R Mahalingam (55) of Meenampatti, K Ramajeyan (27) of Servaikaranpatti, R Ramamoorthi (39) of O Kovilpatti, Nagapandi of Servaikaranpatti and Punniyamoorthi of Virudhunagar.
Revenue officials said the unit has a Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) licence and has been operating for a decade. “The blast may have been triggered by the mishandling of pellets by workers during transit. The structures gutted in the fire include the pellet transit shed and drying platforms,” an official said. While seven sheds were completely destroyed, three sustained partial damage.
The Sattur town police have registered a case under the Explosives Act against owners T Kamalkumar and two others as well as foreman Ravi. Ravi has been arrested, while the others are absconding.
Speaking to TNIE, D Manmadharaja (68), watchman of the unit, said the explosion occurred around 8.30am when 20 workers were handling chemicals.
Bodies of two missing workers found under construction debris
Manmadharaja said that more than 80 workers are employed at the unit, and workers who exclusively handle chemicals come to work around 6am and leave by 11am.
Other workers involved in cracker manufacturing arrive by 9am and finish their work by 5pm.“Just five minutes earlier, I had gone home to get my breakfast. Hearing a series of explosions, I rushed back to the unit,” he said.
Upon receiving information, four fire and rescue teams comprising 26 personnel, five officials, and four fire tenders from Sivakasi, Sattur, and Virudhunagar rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control.
Initially, two workers — Nagapandi and Punniyamoorthi — were reported missing, but their bodies were later recovered from debris.
While R Azhaguraja (28) of Seivakarapatti and K Lingasamy (45) of Sevalpatti sustained 100% burn injuries, K Murugalakshmi (48) of Soolakarai, P Manikandan (40) of Ramalingapuram, and A Karuppasamy of Mathiyasenai suffered minor injuries.
Alleging negligence on the part of the district administration, relatives of Ramamoorthi, who succumbed to injuries at Sivakasi GH, staged a road blockade outside the hospital. The protest was withdrawn after police intervention.
Expressing 'shock' and grief over the tragic incident, Chief Minister M K Stalin said he has ordered the officials to provide a solatium of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased.
The CM announced a relief of Rs one lakh each to those who were seriously injured and undergoing treatment in the hospital, besides Rs 50,000 to those who sustained simple injuries and were admitted to the hospital, an official release said.