Barely 23 days into a major fireworks unit blast that claimed 39 lives, three labourers were killed on Friday in a similar accident at an illegal cracker unit at Vijayakarisalkulam in Sattur taluk of Virudhunagar district.
The explosion ravaged the house of Chellapandian, owner of the illegal fireworks unit. The blast occurred around 9 am in a portion of the house that was used for chemical mixing of the crackers.
All three workers - Kalidass (27), Kumar (45), and Bakyaraj (28) - who are residents of Vallapatti, were charred to death in the explosion, police sources said.
“We got information about the incident around 9.30 am and rushed to the spot. We doused the fire after an hour-long struggle,” said K Nagarajan, Station Fire Officer, Sivakasi. Vembakkottai police Inspector K Selvam registered a case against the houseowner and propreitor of the illegal unit Chellapandian. “A special team has been formed to nab Chellapandian. He went absconding after the incident. We are interrogating his neighbours and family members,” Sathur Deputy Superintendent of Police Chinnaiyya told Express. A preliminary enquiry revealed that the factory was functioning illegally in the house.
“They did not have any legal permission from authorities like police, fire service, revenue and the Factory Inspectorate. The incident apparently occurred during the finishing stage of the manufacturing process. The cause of accident will be known only after a thorough examination by the forensic department,” Selvam said.
Meanwhile, investigating officials revealed that Chellapandian was a also sub-contractor for Barani Fireworks, which was recently closed down for safety norms violations by a special team that raided its premises. Chellapandian got the contract for the finishing works of crackers from Barani Fireworks of Elayirampannai in Sattur taluk and the same was being carried out in his house for a week.
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