Preliminary findings suggest that essential safety measures were not followed in the licensed factory, leading authorities to temporarily suspend its licence.
Published Jul 22, 2025 | 1:20 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 22, 2025 | 2:20 PM
Firecracker blast. Representational Image. (Creative Commons)
Synopsis: The Sivakasi East police arrested two senior employees of a firecracker unit in Naranapuram, where a blast killed three people and injured three others. The owner is absconding.
The Sivakasi East police in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, 22 July, arrested the manager, Prabhakaran, and the foreman, Selvakumar, of a firecracker unit in Naranapuram, where a blast killed three people and injured three others.
Meanwhile, a special team is searching for the factory owner, Srinivas Srinivasan, who remains absconding.
The arrests follow an explosion that occurred around 3.30 pm on Monday in the unit’s chemical filling room.
The deceased have been identified as Karthik (23), Sangeetha (40), and Lakshmi (45).
The injured, Maariamman (55), Maariayammal (53), and Nagalakshmi (55) are being treated at Sivakasi Government Hospital.
Preliminary findings suggest that essential safety measures were not followed in the licensed factory, leading authorities to temporarily suspend its licence.
After the blast, Deputy Director of Fire and Rescue Services (Southern region) K Rajesh Kannan, along with revenue and police officials, inspected the site and began inquiries.
Earlier, on 1 July, at least six people lost their lives after a major blast occurred at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Chinnakamanpatti near Sivakasi.
Workers were engaged in their routine duties at Gokulesh Fireworks Factory when a sudden and powerful blast ripped through the unit, flattening five rooms on the premises.
Following the mishap, Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed deep shock and sorrow. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences and announced financial aid from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund: ₹4 lakh each to the families of the deceased, ₹1 lakh each for those seriously injured and hospitalised and ₹50,000 for those with minor injuries and receiving treatment.
The foreman of the factory has been arrested in connection with the incident following preliminary investigations.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose.)
