A worker was killed and three others suffered injuries in an explosion at a firecracker unit at Vellaiyampatti in Kuppanur village, near Ayodhiyapattinam, in Salem district of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday (September 4, 2024).
The police said at 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday, four workers were unloading raw materials used for making firecrackers from a vehicle, and as they were placing them in the unit, a spark triggered the explosion that spread to the stocked raw materials and firecrackers, bringing down the whole unit.
Jeyaraman, a 55-year-old Sivakasi native, died on the way to the hospital while three others – Suresh Kumar, 34, Muthuraja, 47, and Karthick, 32 – suffered injuries. They were admitted to the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital.
While Fire and Rescue Services personnel put out the fire, Revenue officials inspected the damaged unit. A case has been registered by the Veeranam police.
The owner of the unit, Jayakumar of Sukkampatti, had obtained the licence from the Salem City Police Commissioner.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin condoled the death and announced a solatium of ₹3 lakh to the victim’s family from the Chief Ministers General Relief Fund. Mr. Stalin also announced solatia of ₹1 lakh each to Mr. Suresh Kumar and Mr. Muthuraja who were undergoing treatment.
