An explosion at a firecracker factory killed nine persons near Vembakottai in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar district on Saturday, February 17. Among the deceased, five are women. Initial reports say that while seven people died on the spot, ten others have been critically injured.
The explosion took place at the Winner factory in Ramuthevanpatti near Sattur, owned by one Vignesh (45), a resident of Muthuchamipuram. The factory employs around 150 workers.
The Fire and Rescue Services Department reached the spot and doused the fire. The Vembakottai police are conducting an inquiry. The injured persons have been admitted to the Sivakasi Government Hospital.
On January 24, another accident in a firecracker factory had cost two lives in the district. Two workers, identified as P Kaliraj (20), K Veerakumar (50), were killed in the accident at Thalamuthu fireworks unit at Vachchakarapatti in Virudhunagar district.
Before that, in October 2023, 14 persons were killed in two separate accidents in firecracker units in the district. The casualties included 12 women.