Engineer, foreman killed in explosion at cracker unit near Sivakasi

MADURAI: Two people were killed in an explosion at a firecracker unit near Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district on Thursday.

The incident occurred at the firecracker manufacturing unit, owned by Krishnamoorthy (62), which is located at Namaskarithanpatti near Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district and has more than 100 sheds. The factory was involved in manufacturing fancy crackers. The owner had recently purchased a new machine for mixing the explosive chemicals.

A private company engineer, Ahmed Ibrahim (42), was installing a machine used for mixing raw materials for manufacturing firecrackers in a room at the factory around noon.

Ahmed Ibrahim was conducting a trial run of the machine using explosive materials, with the factory foreman, Balamurugan (45), of Sivakasi, assisting him in the room. Around 200 workers were involved in manufacturing firecrackers when the explosion occurred with a loud sound, damaging the roof of the room. Hearing the noise, the workers ran away from the workplace to a safe place.

Upon receiving the alert, police personnel and fire and rescue services personnel rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire after fighting it for several hours.

Balamurugan died on the spot. Ahmed Ibrahim sustained 100 per cent burn injuries. He was given first aid at the Sivakasi Government Hospital and referred to the Virudhunagar Government Medical College Hospital for further treatment, where he later died without responding to treatment.

The M Pudupatti police have registered a case and are further investigating.