By | PR Network
At least 23 workers were charred to death and more than 12 others injured in a massive explosion at a private firecracker unit in Kattanarpatti village of Virudhunagar on Sunday. The incident occurred at the Vanaja fireworks unit, sending shockwaves across the region and raising fresh concerns over safety in firecracker factories.
According to preliminary information and reports from The New Indian Express (TNIE), a second explosion took place around 7 PM during rescue operations. The blast injured several policemen, fire and rescue personnel, and media persons, including TNIE senior photojournalist K.K. Sundar. Officials said the second blast briefly disrupted rescue efforts before operations resumed.
Police sources said the initial explosion occurred around 3 PM when nearly 50 workers were present at the DRO-licensed unit owned by Muthumanickam (52). The blast is believed to have originated in the front veranda area, where workers were reportedly handling raw materials. The impact was extremely severe, reducing at least four rooms to rubble and completely levelling nearby structures.
Fire and rescue services personnel battled the flames for several hours to bring the situation under control. Many victims were charred beyond recognition, and authorities have so far identified 16 bodies. The deceased and injured have been shifted to Government Virudhunagar Medical College Hospital for postmortem and treatment.
Police identified several victims from nearby villages, while the injured include Saratha, Panjavarnam, Petchiammal, Sangli Thangam, Veerabathran, Arunkumar, and a 12-year-old boy, Sathish, who was present at the site. Among them, Petchiammal and Panjavarnam are reported to have sustained over 80% burn injuries and remain in critical condition.
Senior officials, including District Collector Sukhaputra and Superintendent of Police N. Shreenatha, are monitoring the rescue and relief operations. State Minister KKSSR Ramachandran stated that Chief Minister M. K. Stalin will announce compensation after due process and approvals.
Condolences have poured in from across the country. President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Meanwhile, political reactions have intensified. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami alleged that such accidents have become frequent under the current government, pointing to lapses in safety enforcement. PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss said that over 170 people have died in similar incidents in the past five years and demanded enhanced compensation for victims.
The incident comes just days after another explosion in the Vembakottai area of the same district that claimed four lives, highlighting recurring safety concerns in the firecracker industry of Virudhunagar.
