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18 dead, more than 10 injured as gelatin manufacturing unit explodes
As many as 18 people died while around 10 were injured after a gelatin manufacturing factory exploded at T- Murungapatti, a village in Thuraiyur on December 1 morning due to some spark at the chemical tank.
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Thiruchirapalli
It is said, there was a loud decibel of explosion that shook like a tremour felt at around 7 am by the villagers of T Murungapatti, Kombanpatti and Patharpettai around 85 km away from the City and soon, they were told that it was from Vetrivel Explosives Private Limited, run by R Vijayakannan, a native of Salem is known for making explosives for big factories involved in mining. The explosives include gelatin stick, dynamite and other explosive chemicals. The villagers soon rushed to the factory premises where the body parts scattered around the premises strewn around the entire 100acre expanse. The factory building was almost burried in the earth.
Sources said, at least 40 of them reporting to duty at 6 am to 2 pm shift, and least 300 people report to work from the nearby locality with three shifts working round the clock.
On information, the Uppiliyapuram police rushed to the spot and commenced the rescue operation along with the Fire and Rescue team under the supervision of DIG (Tiruchy Range) Arun and SP Senthil Kumar. Â Around 10 were rescued and sent to the Thuraiyur GH for treatment among them the condition of a few were said to be critical with 50 per cent to 80 per cent burns. Police fear that the death toll may further increase.
Meanwhile, the people from around 10 villages around the factory had gathered but their entry to the spot was prevented by the police. Even the rescue team could not near the spot for a while as the smoke mixed up with chemical was emanating.Â
In the meantime, the district Collector KS Palanisamy who was also present from the morning and was monitoring the rescue process had asked to resume the work on Friday as there was poor lighting in the late evening.
More bodies feared to be trapped in debris. As the factory building collapsed when the workers engaged in loading the chemicals and 43 were on duty for the particular shift, the public feared that there were bodies trapped inside the debris. The removal of debris was to be continued on Friday and so the exact toll may be reached, said a police official.
Minister promises to close factory:
It is said, the factory was flouting the pollution control norms and people had already submitted petition against the factory as it drains the untreated water into the waterbodies and it spoiled the ground water. District Collector KS Palanisamy said, the concerned department was carrying our inspection for the norms violation already.
Meanwhile, the Minister Vellamandi N Natarajan visited the spot and the consoled the relatives of the victims. Soon, the villagers besieged the minister and demanded action against the factory even close it. The minister promised them to close the factory with immediate effect and so the people dispersed from the spot.
Deceased identified:
- R Pradeep (23) of Naganallur,
- Â T Ravindran (40) of T-Patharpettai,
- Â Nagulesan (40, T_Murungapatti
- Â R Rajaprakasam (30), Naganallur
- Â A Srinivasan (48) of Koppanpatti
- Â P Sampath (38) of Koppampatti
- Â R K Subramani (45) of T Patharpeetai.
- Â A Satheesh (23) of T-Murungapatti
- Â T Karthick (31) of Naganallur
- Â P Anandan (31) of Top Sengattupatti
- Â M Karthick (19) of Vairichettipalayam
-  P Selvakumar  (23) of Venkatachalapuram
- Â V Ravichandran (34) of Murungapatti
- Â K Murugan (30) of Senthurapatti in Salem
- Â S Ashokan (32) of Senthurapatti in Salem
- Â P Selvakuamr (36) of Kengavalli in Salem
- Â J Lawrence (43) of Kengavalli in Salem
-  P Boopathy (27) of Senthurapatti in  Salem
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