While preparing a mixture for manufacturing fireworks, a chemical reaction and friction triggered the massive explosion. The blast destroyed four rooms of the facility.
Published Jan 04, 2025 | 11:56 AM ⚊ Updated Jan 04, 2025 | 11:56 AM
Explosion at firecracker unit in Virudhunagar. (Supplied)
On Saturday, 4 January, an explosion occurred at a firecracker manufacturing factory in the Sattur area of Virudhunagar district, killing six people.
Speaking with South First, Ramasamy, a police officer from Virudhunagar confirmed that the death toll currently is at six, and one person is seriously injured.
The firecracker unit has been identified as the Sainath cracker factory in Bommayapuram village, under Appayanayakanpatti panchayat, run by one Balaji. The incident occurred when the unit was operational with workers engaged in their regular duties.
While preparing a chemical mixture for manufacturing fireworks, a chemical reaction and friction triggered the massive explosion. The blast destroyed four rooms of the facility.
The victims, identified as Velmurugan, Nagaraj, Kannan, Kamaraj, Sivakumar, and Meenakshisundaram, were charred to death in the explosion. Additionally, one other sustained 90 percent burn injuries and has been admitted to the government hospital in Virudhunagar.
Firefighters from Sattur, Sivakasi, and Virudhunagar are actively involved in the rescue operations. Meanwhile, police from Vachakarapatti have rushed to the scene and are conducting investigations into the incident.
According to reports, more than 80 workers are engaged in the production of fancy crackers in 35 rooms at this factory, which has a Central Explosives Control Department (CED) license.
In May 2024, nine workers, including five women, were killed in an accident at a fireworks manufacturing unit near Sengamalapatti in Sivakasi in the Virudhunagar district. Seven rooms where the firecrackers were stocked were completely gutted.
In February 2024, 10 people were killed and about 10 others were grievously injured in an explosion in a fireworks factory in Virudhunagar.
On 17 October 2023, the villages of Rangapalayam and Kitchanaickenpatti in Virudhunagar saw two separate fire accidents at two fireworks units, killing at least 14 people.
While 13 people died in the blast at the Rangapalayam firecracker unit, another man died at the blast in the Kitchanaickenpatti firecracker unit.
On 29 July 2023, nine people were killed when a blast ripped through a firecracker godown at Palayapettai town in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district, injuring 11 others.
On 22 March 2023, nine people were killed, and at least 17 others sustained burns in a series of explosions at a firecracker-manufacturing unit in the Kancheepuram district.
Since 31 December 2022, Tamil Nadu has witnessed over 40 deaths due to accidents or explosions in firecracker units.
On 15 December 2023, a 36-year-old worker was killed in an explosion in the Virudhunagar district.
B Shanmugaraj died on the spot following the blast at the firecracker unit functioning at Panayadippatti village in Vembakkakottai taluk of the district.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula, with inputs from Nitika Shivani)
