Ten workers, including three women, were killed and 13 others were injured in multiple blasts at a firecracker manufacturing unit at V. Viragalur village in neighbouring Ariyalur district on October 9.
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Nine two-wheelers, a tractor and a van, which were stationed inside the unit, were gutted in the fire triggered by the blasts.
The initial blast had occurred at around 9.30 a.m. at the ‘Deepam Fire Works, which had a valid licence. A godown to store the fire crackers and chemical substances used for their manufacture was part of the unit. A group of labourers who had come for work in the morning were trapped inside the unit as the fire spread rapidly following the blasts.
Initially, fire fighting teams from Ariyalur and Sendurai fire stations rushed to the spot. As the impact of the blasts and fire was intense, additional fire fighting teams were pressed into service from Kunnam, Perambalur and Thiruvaiyaru fire stations.
The unit is located near agricultural fields. Although fire fighters reached the spot, they could not immediately get close to the blast site due to sporadic explosions.
“The blasts were deafening and thick smoke engulfed the entire area. The explosions prevented anybody from approaching the site”, said a local villager who did not want to be identified. The blasts destroyed the unit completely, said a senior Fire and Rescue Services department official adding that a fire accident was reported at the same unit last year.
The impact of the blast was such that some mutilated body parts were found strewn nearby and recovered subsequently, said police sources. .
The bodies of 10 persons were recovered from the blast site after some time and 13 others, who sustained injuries, were shifted to the Government Hospital, Ariyalur and Thanjavur Medical College Hospital (TMCH). The fire fighting operations lasted several hours before the flames were put out completely.
Collector J. Anne Mary Swarna, Inspector General of Police, Central Zone G. Karthikeyan and Superintendent of Police, Ariyalur K. Feroze Khan Abdulla inspected the site and conducted inquiries. Forensic officials and scientific assistants inspected the site.
The cause of the blast was under investigation, a senior police officer said adding that the Keelapalur police had registered a case under various provisions of the Explosive Substance Act besides under different provisions of the Indian Penal Code. The unit owner Rajendran who was not present at the time of the explosion in the unit was later detained by the police, the sources added.
The deceased were as identified as B. Seenu (21) of Virudhunagar district, D. Paneerselvam (55) of Virudhunagar district, S. Ravi (45) of Viragalur, R. Sivakamy (40) of Viragalur, K. Rasathi (38) of Viragalur, S. Vennila (40) of Viragalur, M. Sinnadurai (55) of Karaivetti, K. Arivalagan (56) of Thatchankurichi in Tiruchi district, U. Sivakumar (38) of Pillaiyarpatti in Thanjavur district and V. Anandraj (50) of Thiruvalanchuli near Kumbakonam. The bodies were taken to the Government Medical College Hospital, Ariyalur for autopsy.
CM condoles, announces solatium
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a solatium of ₹3 lakh to families of the each of the deceased. He also announced a compensation of ₹2 lakh to each to those who suffered serious injuries and ₹50,000 each to those with minor injuries.
Labour Welfare Minister C.V. Ganesan and Transport Minister S.S. Sivasankar called on the injured at the Government Medical College Hospital at Ariyalur and TMCH in the evening. Mr.Ganesan later told reporters said stern action would be taken against the unit owner if it came to light that proper safety protocol was not followed at the unit. District level committees have been formed to inspect fire cracker units. If safety norms were not followed, the licences of the units concerned would be cancelled. “Stern action will be taken against units which violate safety norms,” he added.
