Friction while weighing chemicals may have caused firecracker factory blast that killed 6

The deceased were identified as S Kamaraj (45), R Kannan (54), S Sivakumar (56), R Nagaraj (37), G Velmurugan (54), and another individual whose identity is yet to be confirmed. Another worker, S Muhammad Sudeen (21) suffered a leg fracture and has been transferred to Madurai for treatment.

Witnesses described a scene of chaos as the explosion tore through the factory. Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Sattur, Virudhunagar, and Aruppukottai were deployed to extinguish the fire and search for survivors. Earthmovers were used to retrieve the bodies, which were later transported to the Virudhunagar Government Medical College Hospital for postmortem.

J Varadharaj, the Sattur station fire officer, said that preliminary investigations suggest the blast might have been triggered by friction while weighing chemicals. “A detailed probe will reveal the actual cause for the accident,” he said.

Officials from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) have collected samples from the site to determine the exact cause of the explosion.

Local police have registered a case against four individuals, including factory owners Balaji and Sasibalan, on charges of causing death by negligence and employing workers without adequate safety measures.

Known as India’s fireworks capital, Sivakasi region has witnessed numerous such incidents, often attributed to lax safety standards and the hazardous nature of the work.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for the injured worker. A joint probe by the revenue, police and fire services officers about the incident was underway on Saturday evening.