Seven persons were arrested on Thursday in connection with the massive fire at a cracker manufacturing unit near here that claimed 39 lives even as police are on the lookout for the owner of the factory which allegedly violated several safety norms.
Four persons who had taken the Omshakthi fireworks factory complex where the fire broke out on lease, its foreman and two others entrusted with managing the unit had been arrested, SP Najmal Hoda told reporters.
Ten teams had been formed to nab the factory owner Murugesan, who fled the spot after the devastating fire on Wednesday.
“It is absolutely illegal.. what he has done (giving the factory on lease), is absolutely wrong,” the SP said, adding, cases had been registered against the lease holders and owner under various sections of IPC and Explosives Act.
According to the SP, the factory had committed several violations such as safety norms, overcrowding, overstocking and wrong mixing of chemicals.
Initial examination by forensic experts revealed that mixing of chemical had been done in “unscientific proportions”. Besides, rubber sheets had not been provided at the sheds where the crackers were manufactured.
The area around the factory, spread over five acres, had been cordoned off as police feared that more unexploded crackers could burst due to extreme heat conditions.
Fire service personnel were constantly dousing the area, so that earth-movers could be used to clear the debris.
Mr. Rangaswamy, an official of the Controller of Explosives, said the licences of the factory, valid up to 2014, were suspended three months ago due to 40 different types of violations. However, revenue officials said the communication on suspension of the licences had not been conveyed to them.
He said two licences which were issued to the factory, one by the Controller of Explosives of the Central government and another for sulphur powder by the State authority, were valid till 2014.
The violations, including employing more than 300 workers against the norm of 200 employees, had been noticed before the suspension of the licences, he said.
The factory had attempted to manufacture more than their capacity to meet the demand for crackers for Diwali and New year, besides employing unskilled workers and putting up 45 sheds instead of the permitted 35.
An official in the rank of Joint director of forensic department also visited the site and collected the samples of the chemicals and crackers to analyse the causes for the fire and would submit a report to the government shortly.
The Director General of Fire and Rescue, Bholanath, visited the factory complex.
Those who suffered more than 50 per cent burns have been shifted to a Madurai hospital.
Senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, who visited the site, said a high-level inquiry should be ordered into the incident and adequate compensation given to the victims.
The news report reveals that the various violations of safety norms had not taken place overnight but had been there all along and the law enforcers had shut their eyes to the ground realities. Inspections done by them,if any, should have certainly brought to light lapses on the part of the factory management.Either proper inspections had not been done or utter casualness would have been displayed. Some 300 workers are said to be employed in the factory.What were the Trade Union leaders doing in the face of the management's several violations of safety norms? Did it not occur to them to speak to the management to get them to act in time? Exemplary punishment after a thorough enquiry should be meted out to all persons responsible besides giving fair compensation to the families of the victims by recovering money from the irresponsible management.
our government has to take severe action, those who are making crackers without license. And people needs to be very careful while manufacturing these things. really we pray for those who lose their loved ones in fire........ dear indians, please be careful atleast now.
Jai hind........
This is the story like "when the horses have gone, you bolt the door".
Fine, you have arrested people. But, please do go after the Labour
Officer who signed all okay (including storage etc) / Factory
inspector / Inspector under Explosives / Fire & Hazards people /
Safety etc people - all who (after duly taking their share of " Katki"
after inspection and approved). I in my career of 50 years, faced
several authorities who came for " inspection" but were primarily
interested in "katki" to give a good report. Organisations do not
speak, their diaries of expenses do.
In India there are no safety norms followed in any of the institutions. There was a fire in a shop in T.Nagar that killed 1 person. There was a lot of hue and cry at that time but now there are still more shops in T.nagar without any fire code safety norms. What is the Government doing about that
Dear, Mr.Vinay Deahpande, Mr.Kingsbala & Mr.Raj Before making comments
please know the truths. Since having a key board do not type.
Any one of you know how many government officers lost their life itself
while preventing the violations. You people just do not care, because
you yourself does like that.
When we teach our kids about culture, we should always give them such examples, the heights of negligence the hall mark of our culture. But unfortunately we are not realistic, we show them few epics and teach them the culture of assumption.
"communication on suspension of the licences had not been conveyed" clearly shows that money has changed hands. Arrest the CoE official and he will spill the beans on how many hands the money washed.
This accident indirectly tells that no Govt.officials working for people but for money(Factory Owners).Still all Labour laws , welfare & safety measures are all in paper only which is kept much safe in cupboard.
Thanks to TN Govt.offcials for keeping All labour laws safely in a cupboard not in field
i wholeheartely regret for the kith & kin of victims .
The massive and classic cover-up operation is clearly on by the partners in crime.
1. The suspension notice was allegedly sent one day befor- This was done after the accident by changing the computer Date&Time and sending the mail.This can be easily detected if propoerly looked into from both ends.
2.There were 45 sheds instead of 35, Blah..blah..blah - They have not come up overnight or after the alleged suspension. Glaringly visible collusionary violations not related to the accident per se..Only an extra swat or boot on the beaten owners...
3.The owner has leased the factory to someone against the Blah.. blah- Collusionary violation if it is really a violation. Wheteher the owner leases it or employes sub-agencies for supply of manpower or Piece rate workers, etc is not directy related to the fire accident.
4. There are more that 300 workers instead of 200 workers- not related to the accident cause. But this may contribute to an increased casuality...
Good luck.. Make more money.
This is not happening first time in sivakasi .What safety act is there
in our country .Relating authoriting people that means govt sector only
100% responsible for this .SEE That 39 people who missed their life .
There is no report as yet, about the identity of the unfortunate victims. Were there any children employed? Sivakasi for fireworks and Badohi (UP) for carpet making have always been suspected of employing children. None of the main-stream-media has reported on this aspect.
It is very sad to know that so many poor laborers died in the fire
accident in Sivakasi. As usual it is the failure of the Government
agencies to impalement safety standards in fireworks. These things make
news for a day or two then the whole incident forget by the Government
as well as the public. Compensation paid by the Government is not enough
and it should take sever action or cancel the licence of the fireworks
who are not following the safety standards set by the Government.
I wonder whats the job of city muncipality or village panchayat in our
country? Can't they learn from one mistake and force statute of safety
and security in hospitals, companies, factories etc. It has been
happening so frequently these days.
Safety concerns very important. officials shall make regular visit to ensure all safety requirements.Shall require to implement urgently; infuture may save some lives.
"The license of the factory cancelled only two days before" is something fishy, unbelievable and may be for safeguarding the people associated with this. A large number of people could have been saved had there been a proper monitoring of the functioning of such fire-prone factories.
In such cases, I have noticed that no Govt. official, who is
responsible to visit & check that the safety of the workers is taken
care of, is ever punished. These officials are equally responsible &
need to be punished so that they will ensure required norms are met
by the factory.
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