Ten people including four women died while several have been injured in a blast at firecracker factory in Tamil Nadu's Vembakottai on Saturday. Visuals showed locals surrounding a damaged building after the explosion, with ambulances on the spot.
According to locals, the magnitude of the blast was so high that four buildings, in addition to the firecracker factory, were destroyed.
What did the Tamil Nadu CM say?
Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister M K Stalin has instructed two state ministers to oversee the rescue and relief efforts following a sudden explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Kundayiruppu village in Vembakottai.
The Chief Minister has tasked State Revenue Minister K K S S R Ramachandran and Labour Minister C V Ganesan with promptly heading to the location to oversee the rescue and relief operations, as per an official statement.
He has ordered a solatium of Rs 3 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs one lakh to the grievously injured.
What did PM Modi say?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolence over the deaths in the mishap in Virudhunagar district and announced that an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased.
In a post on 'X', the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said: "It is with a heavy heart that I learnt about a mishap at a firecracker factory in Virudhunagar district. During this difficult time, my thoughts are with the loved ones of those who have tragically passed away. I wish a swift and full recovery for all who have been injured. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000."
Virudhunagar district Collector V P Jayaseelan said, "Initially 9 persons died due to the explosion and 3 who were injured were rushed to Sivakasi Government Hospital for treatment."
The mishap occurred around 12.30 pm on Saturday in the chemical mixing room of the firecracker making unit in the village.
Preliminary enquiry revealed that there was overcrowding in the chemical mixing room, and that the explosion could have been triggered when the chemical was being handled, he said. The factory owner had a licence.
Asked how the explosion happened, the Collector replied "it could have been due to a human error. We have ordered a thorough enquiry by an inter-departmental team."
The incident comes a week after 11 people were killed and over 200 others were injured after a major fire broke out in a firecracker factory in Harda town of Madhya Pradesh.
Two owners of the firecrackers factory in Madhya Pradesh's Harda town were arrested by the police later over the tragic incident. They were booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, among other charges, after an FIR was filed against them, officials said.
