Virudhunagar, April 19: A devastating explosion occurred at the ‘Vanja Firecracker Factory’ in Kattanarpatti, near Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, on Sunday, resulting in the tragic deaths of 18 individuals and leaving several others injured. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed his condolences over the incident.
In a post on the social media platform X, Chief Minister Stalin stated that he was deeply saddened by the news of multiple fatalities in the firecracker factory explosion in Virudhunagar. He extended his heartfelt sympathies to the families of the deceased.
Stalin has requested Ministers K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran and Thangam Thenarasu to promptly reach the site to expedite rescue operations and provide support to the affected families. He also contacted the district collector to coordinate all necessary assistance following the incident.
Reports indicate that the factory is owned by Muthu Manikam, a resident of Govindanallur, and was operating under a valid RDO license. The facility comprises over 30 rooms and employs more than 50 workers.
On Sunday, approximately 30 employees were present when a loud explosion suddenly occurred. The blast severely damaged at least four rooms in the factory, causing chaos and panic.
Fire department teams arrived promptly at the scene and worked tirelessly for over an hour to control the flames. Although they managed to extinguish the fire, significant damage had already occurred. Many of the 30 workers present at the time were trapped under the debris. Rescue teams immediately began operations to extract those trapped.
So far, around 18 bodies have been recovered, while efforts to locate other missing individuals continue. In the aftermath of this tragic event, local administration and police have mobilized. Superintendent of Police (SP) Srinath is on-site assessing the situation and has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.
Preliminary suspicions suggest that the explosion may have been caused by flammable materials stored in the factory; however, the exact cause will only be determined after the investigation is complete. This incident has once again raised concerns about safety standards in firecracker factories.
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