A youth was killed and another person sustained burns in a blast in an illegal cracker manufacturing unit at Pallakkadu village near Gangavalli on Saturday.
According to the police, firecrackers were manufactured illegally in private premises in the farm owned by V. Rajendran, 61, in the village.
A. Balamurugan alias Murugan, 28, of Thadavur Pudhur village, an employee, was involved in the manufacture of crackers on Saturday.
Mr. Rajendran was doing the welding work in the fence nearby, when a spark fell on the cracker stock, leading to sudden explosion.
The crackers and the other explosive substances kept in the premises exploded injuring both Balamurugan and Mr. Rajendran. The hay stock in the farm caught fire.
Fire engines were rushed to the spot and the flames were put out quickly. Both the injured were rushed to the government hospital at Gangavalli, where Balamurugan was declared brought dead.
After first aid at the Gangavalli Government Hospital, Mr. Rajendran has been admitted to the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital in the city.
The Gangavalli police have registered a case under Section 304 (ii) IPC read with 9 (b) (1) (a) of Explosive Substances Act.
