B Shanmugaraj died on the spot following the blast at the firecracker unit functioning at Panayadippatti village in the Virudhanagar district.
Published Dec 15, 2023 | 4:50 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 15, 2023 | 4:51 PM
Fire and Resuce department officials at the accident site. (X)
In another instance of an accident at a firecracker unit in Tamil Nadu, a 36-year-old worker was killed in an explosion on Friday, 15 December, 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.
Since 31 December last year, Tamil Nadu has witnessed over 40 deaths due to accidents or explosions in firecracker units.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister MK Stalin has ordered a solatium of ₹3 lakh to the kin of the deceased.
Stalin, expressing grief, conveyed his condolences to the bereaved and ordered the authorities to release the ex gratia amount to the kin of the deceased.
விருதுநகர் மாவட்டம் பனையடிபட்டி கிராமத்திலுள்ள தனியார் பட்டாசு ஆலையில் ஏற்பட்ட வெடி விபத்தில் உயிரிழந்தவரின் குடும்பத்திற்கு ஆறுதல் மற்றும் நிதியுதவியை மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் @mkstalin அவர்கள் அறிவித்துள்ளார். pic.twitter.com/BDNxVaZFip
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) December 15, 2023
On 17 October, 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.
The accident in Rangapalayam took place when the workers tested the crackers in the afternoon and a spark landed on the crackers being packed in the adjoining area, thus triggering a blast, the senior official had said then. The deceased people included 12 women workers.
The incident in Kitchanaickenpatti village left a man dead. He was identified as Vembu (35), the police said. Two women workers, who were rescued, were admitted to the Srivilliputtur Government Hospital for treatment.
On 29 July, 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, 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.
Two women were killed and a man was injured in a blast at a firecracker unit at Nagadasampatti village in the Dharmapuri district on 16 March. While the deceased people were identified as K Muniammal (65) and B Palaniammal (50), P Sivalingam (47) suffered grievous injuries and was admitted to Dharmapuri District Hospital.
Three people, including a woman, were charred to death and six others suffered grievous burns after explosives went off at a firecracker-manufacturing unit at S Gollapatti village in Tamil Nadu’s Salem district on 1 June.
Earlier, on 31 December 2022, four people were killed and five others injured when firecrackers stocked in a house at Mohanur Metutheru in the Namakkal district exploded. Houseowner Thillai Kumar, his wife Priya, his mother Selvi, and a woman next door were killed in the incident. Kumar’s five-year-old daughter suffered injuries in the blast.
(With PTI inputs)
