Two suffer burns in explosion at cracker unit in Virudhunagar

According to sources, the injured victims have been identified as Ramasamy (35) and Ganesan (45) of Ammaiyarpatti village, Vembakottai block.

Inquiries held by Vembakottai Station Fire Officer S Kanthiah revealed that one of the victims, while working in a room at the cracker manufacturing unit, was engaged on his mobile phone. The phone slipped from his hands and fell on to the floor, which triggered the explosion.

In the explosion, fire spread to six other rooms in the unit and theywere gutted.

During the incident, around sixty workers were reportedly engaged in the licensed unit, which has a total of 20 rooms.

Ramasamy’s condition is said to be critical as he sustained 65 per cent burn injuries to his body. The other injured victim, Ganesan, suffered 36 per cent burns, Kanthiah said. With the aid of the ‘108’ emergency ambulance service, both the injured were taken to the primary health centre at Sevalpatti, where they were administered first aid. They were later admitted to the Sivakasi government hospital.

Responding to the emergency call around 10.50 am, it took nearly an hour for the fire and rescue services brigade to put out the flames, Kanthiah said. The Vembakottai police also inspected the spot.

Based on a complaint lodged by Ganesan, the Vembakottai police filed a case against the proprietor of the cracker unit, Paramasivam, and two others-including foremen Pandarasamy and Anthonyraj-under the Explosive Substances Act. The accused are, however,absconding.