- By Anushka Vats
- Sat, 04 Jan 2025 12:23 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Tamil Nadu News: As many as six workers were killed after an explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit near Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu on Thursday, reported PTI citing an official. The explosion is suspected to have occurred while chemicals were being mixed, causing at least one room to collapse and resulting in fatalities.
The Fire Department responded promptly upon receiving information, extinguished the blaze, and is currently engaged in rescue operations. Police officials stated that investigations are underway, and the accident site is being closely examined
Recently, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin visited the Virudhunagar district, where he urged fireworks factory owners to take safety measures to prevent such accidents.
He had also interacted with workers and assured them that he had instructed factory owners to adopt all necessary precautions.
Despite the Chief Minister's inspection and reassurances, such incidents persist in the district. Virudhunagar, particularly Sivakasi, is recognised as the fireworks hub of Tamil Nadu, housing most of the state's firecracker factories.
More than 300 factories in Virudhunagar district and surrounding villages manufacture these types of crackers. The fireworks industry provides employment to nearly four lakh workers across 1,150 factories in Virudhunagar, with Sivakasi contributing to 70 percent of India's total firecracker production.
In 2024, the district reported 17 accidents in firecracker factories, resulting in 54 fatalities.
Earlier in 2023, 14 people were killed in two incidents of fire in firecracker factories in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district. The first incident was in Rangapalayam area. Police had said that the accident occurred during sample testing of firecrackers.
CM MK Stalin had then also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh to the next kin of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to the injured.
(With inputs from agency)