Two workers, Sowdammal, 53, of Kalkurichi, and Karuppaiah, 35, of Kandiyanendal, were killed and three others sustained injuries in a fire that broke out at a fireworks manufacturing unit, Yuvraj Fireworks, at Vadakarai near Kariyapatti on Wednesday (June 11, 2025).
The injured were identified as C. Murugan, 45, his wife Petchiammal, 43, and another worker A. Ganesan, 53. All of them hail from Kandiyanendal.
The police said the fireworks unit has a valid licence from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation. Over 130 persons were working at the unit when a chemical reaction in one of the working sheds — where chemicals were being filled to manufacture ‘bijili’ crackers — led to an explosion at around 9 a.m.
The officials suspected that overnight decomposition of leftover mixture of chemicals could have triggered the blast. Both Sowdammal and Karuppaiah were killed on the spot.
Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Kariyapatti helped recover their bodies from the debris.
The injured have been admitted to Virudhunagar Government Medical College Hospital. Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu visited the hospital and consoled the family members of the accident victims.
Published – June 11, 2025 02:01 pm IST
