Tamil Nadu: Massive Explosion in Firecracker Factory, 6 Workers Killed

A massive explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district killed six workers. The mishap occurred when chemicals were being mixed, causing the total destruction of several rooms. Fire and rescue services rushed to the spot, and local police have started an investigation into the cause of the tragedy. More than 80 workers were present in the factory's 35 rooms when the explosion took place.

Factory Explosion During Routine Work

The factory is owned by a person named Balaji in Bommaypuram village under Appanayakanpatti Panchayat. The explosion took place when the workers were carrying out their routine work. The dead bodies have been identified as Velmurugan, Nagaraj, Kannan, Kamaraj, Shivakumar, and Meenakshi Sundaram, who were burnt to death. Another worker has been admitted to the Virudhunagar Government Hospital with critical injuries.

Virudhunagar's History of Firecracker Factory Incidents

Virudhunagar district has seen numerous firecracker factory blasts in the recent years. In May 2024, nine laborers, including five women, died after a blast at Sengamalapatti near Sivakasi. Seven storage rooms were totally gutted in that incident.

Earlier, in February 2024, another explosion in a firecracker factory in the district killed ten people and left many severely injured. In October 2023, two separate factory fires in Rangapalayam and Kichanaickenpatti villages led to 14 fatalities. Among them, 13 people died in the Rangapalayam explosion, while one worker lost their life in the Kichanaickenpatti unit.