Six Workers Killed in Explosion at Fireworks Unit in Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu
Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu: A tragic explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar on Saturday resulted in the deaths of at least six workers. According to officials, the blast is believed to have occurred during the process of mixing chemicals, which triggered a massive explosion that destroyed at least one room in the facility, causing the fatalities. Emergency responders from the fire and rescue department quickly arrived at the site to manage the situation.
The Incident Details
The explosion occurred at a time when the workers were involved in routine operations within the facility. The explosion’s intensity caused severe damage, and rescue operations began immediately after the blast. While the exact cause of the chemical reaction remains under investigation, officials suspect that an improper mixture or unsafe handling of chemicals may have led to the fatal accident.
Impact and Response
Emergency teams, including local police, fire, and medical units, rushed to the scene to manage the aftermath and ensure that the surrounding area was secure. The authorities have since initiated an inquiry to determine the safety protocols in place at the firecracker unit and whether they were followed during operations.
LPG Tanker Overturns in Coimbatore
In a separate incident, a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanker overturned early Friday morning on the Avinashi Road flyover in Coimbatore, leading to a minor gas leak. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. The accident occurred when the tanker became detached from the truck as the driver navigated a roundabout. Traffic was temporarily halted in the central area of the city, and local schools within a 1 km radius were instructed to close as a precautionary measure.
Coimbatore district collector Kranthi Kumar Pati confirmed that the situation was quickly brought under control, with the fire service spraying water on the tanker to reduce the risk of a larger fire or explosion. The tanker, which was carrying 18 tonnes of LPG for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, was on its way from Kochi, Kerala, to the company’s bottling plant in Coimbatore.
Both incidents have raised serious concerns about industrial safety protocols, especially in high-risk sectors like fireworks manufacturing and hazardous material transportation. Authorities are now reviewing procedures to prevent such accidents in the future.
