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30 killed, 70 injured in fire at cracker factory in Sivakasi
About 30 people (mostly factory workers) died of burns and shrapnel injuries after a major fire triggered off explosive blasts inside a firecracker unit, Om Shakti factory, at Sivakasi, in Virudanagar district some 500 km from Chennai on Wednesday afternoon.
The death toll could be much higher as scores of people were injured in the accident that occurred around 1 pm at the factory where 300 people were inside the unit. On hearing the explosion, lots of workers rushed out, several of them inured. The injured have been admitted to local Sivakasi government hospital and many driven to Madurai general hospital, which is some 70 km away from Sivakasi, the main hub of firecrackers manufacturing in the country.
Najmal Huda, SP Virudanagar, in which district Sivakasi falls, said it was a major accident. At least 10 fire tenders have been rushed to the premises. The fire tenders as also the firefighters are yet to enter the premises of the factory, as some unexploded material was stored in the godown next to the factory that has also caught fire now.
Some 30 workers are feared trapped inside the factory as for some reasons they hid inside.
The police official admitted that the fire fighters were yet unable to enter the premises. Several among the inured are said to be in critical condition and the death toll could be much higher, police officials fear.
About 30 people (mostly factory workers) died of burns and shrapnel injuries after a major fire triggered off explosive blasts inside a firecracker unit, Om Shakti factory, at Sivakasi, in Virudanagar district some 500 km from Chennai on Wednesday afternoon.
The death toll could be much higher as scores of people were injured in the accident that occurred around 1 pm at the factory where 300 people were inside the unit. On hearing the explosion, lots of workers rushed out, several of them inured. The injured have been admitted to local Sivakasi government hospital and many driven to Madurai general hospital, which is some 70 km away from Sivakasi, the main hub of firecrackers manufacturing in the country.
Najmal Huda, SP Virudanagar, in which district Sivakasi falls, said it was a major accident. At least 10 fire tenders have been rushed to the premises. The fire tenders as also the firefighters are yet to enter the premises of the factory, as some unexploded material was stored in the godown next to the factory that has also caught fire now.
Some 30 workers are feared trapped inside the factory as for some reasons they hid inside.
The police official admitted that the fire fighters were yet unable to enter the premises. Several among the inured are said to be in critical condition and the death toll could be much higher, police officials fear.
