New Delhi : Thirteen workers were killed and six others injured in a massive explosion at a licensed firecracker manufacturing unit in Kattanarapatti village in Tamil Nadu’s southern Virudhunagar district on Sunday evening. Women are also included among the dead.
It is being said that the blast occurred due to a mistake while mixing the chemicals used in making firecrackers. The explosion was so powerful that those four rooms of the factory were completely razed to the ground. Around 30 workers were working there at the time of the incident and most of the bodies have been burnt so badly that it has become difficult to identify them. The explosion took place at ‘Vanja Firecracker Manufacturing Unit’ owned by Muthumanikam.
This unit also had a valid license to manufacture firecrackers. But despite Sunday being an official holiday, work was going on in the factory. As soon as information about the incident was received, several teams of fire department and rescue personnel from Sivakasi, Virudhunagar and Sattur reached the spot, which after much effort were successful in controlling the fire and carrying out relief operations. Virudhunagar District Superintendent of Police S.P. Srinath and other senior officials were present at the spot and directly monitored the rescue operations.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed deep sorrow and grief over this incident and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. He gave instructions to carry out relief operations and ministers Thangam Thennarasu and K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran was ordered to immediately reach the spot and expedite rescue and relief operations.
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