One person was killed and three women workers sustained serious burns when fire broke out in a match factory at Malaiyankulam near Sankarankovil on Thursday.
The deceased was identified as Kandasamy alias R. Muthukumar (28) of Malaiyankulam. While A. Mariammal (53) and P. Rajamani (48), both hailing from Malaiyankulam, have been admitted to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital with 70 per cent burns, G. Mariammal (38), also from Malaiyankulam, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Sankarankovil. Their condition is said to be “critical”.
Police said that the fire broke out when matches, prepared and packed in gunny bags at Keezhaneelithanallur, were being unloaded at the match factory around 2 p.m. As the fire engulfed the surrounding areas, Kandasamy, who was about to get married soon, was charred to death on the spot and the three women were injured.
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Fire tenders from Sankarankovil were rushed to the spot to douse the flames that destroyed raw materials and machinery.
Superintendent of Police V. Vikraman visited the spot. During investigation, the police found that Kandasamy, who was working abroad, had returned to his native place for his marriage. When he was helping his elder brother R. Selvam in the match factory, he was killed in the fire accident.
Kuruvikulam police have registered a case.
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