Three killed, three injured in cracker unit blast in TN's Virudhunagar
VIRUDHUNAGAR: Three people, including a woman, died and three other suffered injuries in a blast at a firecracker manufacturing unit at Vadakarai village near Aruppukottai on Wednesday. Three employees have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed condolence and announced solatium of Rs four lakh each to the kin of deceased, Rs one lakh to those who suffered serious injuries and Rs 50,000 each to those sustained minor injuries. Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu and Collector VP Jeyaseelan visited the hospital and consoled the family members.
Police said the blast happened at Yuvaraj Fireworks, which is owned by V Raja Chandrasekar and has PESO licence. Around 100 people were working in the unit when the explosion happened around 9 am. The deceased have been identified as R Sowndammal (53) of Kalkurichi, A Ganeshan (38) and A Karuppaiah (44) both from Thandiyanendhal. The injured have been identified as C Murugan (45), his wife Petchiammal (40) and M Mariammal (44), all from Thandiyanendhal. They are receiving treatment at Government Virudhunagar Medical College Hospital. Sources said Murugan and Petchiammal are in a critical condition.
The explosion took place in a shed where workers were stuffing chemicals for making crackers. Sowndammal and Karuppaiah died on the spot and Ganeshan succumbed to injuries in hospital. Murugan and Petchiammal have suffered around 80% burn injuries whereas Mariammal sustained injuries after being hit by the debris.
Fire and rescue service personnel and police rushed to the spot and doused the fire. Kariyapatti police registered a case under 288, 125 (A), 105 BNS r/w 9 (B), 1 (A) of The Explosive Substances Act. The foreman V Veerasekaran, supervisors M Kanimurugan and P Hariperumal have been arrested.