15 dead, 36 injured as fire breaks out in TN fireworks factory

Virudhunagar (TN): At least 15 workers were killed and over 30 injured when an explosion ripped through a fireworks factory near Sattur in this southern district in Tamil Nadu on Friday, police said.

The explosion occurred when some chemicals were being mixed to produce fireworks at the unit in Acchankulam village, they said, adding the injured had been hospitalised.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami, Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and DMK president M K Stalin were among those who condoled the deaths.

While Palaniswami earlier in a statement in Chennai said 11 people were killed on the spot and 36 injured, police said four succumbed at hospitals hours after admission.

Over 30 injured were presently undergoing treatment. Modi and Palaniswami announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh each and three lakh each to the kin of the deceased from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund and the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund respectively.

The factory building was damaged badly under the impact of the explosion and many suffered burns.

Palaniswami said he has ordered a probe into the incident while assuring due legal action.

Several firefighting units were deployed to douse the fire and take up the rescue operations.

Such explosions while mixing chemicals in cracker manufacturing units have been reported in the past in Virudhunagar district, especially places in and around Sivakasi and Sattur, the national hub of fireworks.

Modi on Friday said the "fire at a firecracker factory in Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu is saddening."

Posting in his official Twitter handle, @PMO India, he said "in this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. I hope those injured recover soon. Authorities are working on the ground to assist those affected: PM @narendramodi".

'An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each has been approved from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to a fire in Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu. Rs 50,000 would be given to those seriously injured," he said, in a tweet, which was also made in Tamil.

Palaniswami expressed grief over the deaths. He announced a sum of Rs three lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs one lakh to those who had suffered grievous injuries.