17 killed in TN cracker unit blast

17 killed in TN cracker unit blast

M K Ananth & Kaushik Kannan TNN

Virudhunagar:13.02.2021 

In one of the worst fireworks tragedies in recent years in Tamil Nadu, 17 people, including seven women, were killed and 35 others injured in a blast at a cracker unit in Achankulam near Sattur town on Friday afternoon. The condition of many of the injured is said to be critical. The accident took place on the premises of Sri Mariamman Fireworks around 1 pm where workers were engaged in filling chemicals in fancy fireworks.

The explosion was triggered by friction when workers were handling chemicals in one of the working sheds. Under its impact, the fire spread to several sheds in the cracker unit, making firefighting difficult for a long time. While nine people died on the spot, the numbers climbed to 17 by evening. Virudhunagar district collector R Kannan told TOI that the deceased include seven women and five men. “We have identified five men and five women. Two women are yet to be identified while the gender of the three other bodies is yet to be ascertained,” he said.

The injured -- 14 women and 21 men -- were being treated at various hospitals in Sattur, Sivakasi and Kovilpatti. Chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami has announced Rs 3 lakh relief to the relatives of each of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh each to those injured.PM Narendra Modi mourned the tragedy and announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured. Sources said several violations were identified in the cracker unit. As many as 70 people were employed in the unit which was way above the stipulated number.

The explosion was triggered by friction when workers were handling chemicals in one of the working sheds