CB-CID to probe Thuraiyur explosion

The case, which was registered by Uppliyapuram police under sections 304 (II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC and under provisions of the Explosive Substances Act against the owner Vijay Kannan, Managers Prakasam, Rajagopal and Safety Manager Anandan. has been handed over to the CB-CID. CB-CID SP S Rajeswari visited the spot and continued the investigations. 

A team of 36 fire service personnel along with local police have been carrying out the rescue operations after sealing the area of around 50 acres, which has been housing the explosive manufacturing factory.  But that did not stop people from over 20 nearby villages and family members of the deceased from converging near the company premises. Meanwhile, the CB-CID police to whom the case was handed over, remained tight lipped about the happenings inside the premises which prompted a series of protests by the public demanding a transparent inquiry. Earlier, the relatives Pravin Kumar had come to the spot claiming that he was also one of the victims of the tragedy as he was on duty on the fateful day and they could find no information about him. 

However, the people who gathered there, said that the movement register, which used to be maintained at the entrance, went missing soon after the tragedy. A team of experts led by Deputy Controller of Explosives from Vellore and the Joint Chief of Explosives from Sivakasi carried out investigation with the assistance of the local police. The company, Vetrivel Explosives Private Limited, has three units that manufacture PETN (Penta Erytheritol Tetra Nitrate) in a tubular jelly format using components of Hydro Chloric Acid and Nitric Acid with coal ash which are used as explosives for mines and tunnels.  The company was producing 120 kg per shift with three shifts a day and has a capacity of producing 20 tonnes of PETN a day.