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New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Chinnakamanpatti cracker unit blast devastates families, kids lose parents
VIRUDHUNAGAR: A Karuppasamy (27) and his wife K Lakshmi (25), like any other day, hopped onto their two-wheeler on Tuesday morning to leave for work at Gokulesh Fireworks in Chinnakamanpatti. The couple had left their two children — K Karuppan (4) and K Iniya Sree (1) — in the care of Karuppasamy's 65-year-old mother. But neither the couple nor their family members were aware of how the following few hours were going to gravely affect them. Around 8.30 am on Tuesday (July 1), an explosion occurred at the cracker unit, allegedly due to the mishandling of pellets by workers, killing 10 individuals, including Lakshmi, and injuring three others, including Karuppasamy. I had been working just a few rooms away from my wife when I heard the explosion, said Karuppasamy. 'In a few seconds, before I could even understand what was going on, everything was over,' he said. Karuppasamy, who has been working in cracker units for 10 years since his father's demise, told TNIE, 'Due to our financial situation, I asked Lakshmi to work, which is how she ended up taking the job.' The couple, married five years ago, was earning a total of Rs 4,500 a week. While Karuppasamy is hospitalised, his two children still remain at home, in the care of their grandmother. Meanwhile, N Alaguchithra (26) from Srevaikaranpatti is still struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of her husband — Nagapandi (28), another victim of the blast. One of her relatives said, 'Five years ago, the couple fell in love and got married. Just 45 days ago, they celebrated the birth of their child at the government hospital, the very place where Nagapandi's autopsy has been carried out.' The relative added that Alaguchithra has been receiving treatment for heart ailments for years.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Time of India
8 killed in explosion at cracker making unit
Virudhunagar: Eight workers were killed and five others injured in an explosion at a fireworks unit at Chinnakamanpatti village in Virudhunagar district on Tuesday. The incident happened at Gokulesh Fireworks near Sattur, a unit licensed by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation. Around 8.20am, workers were handling chemicals required for the manufacture of aerial crackers in the chemical mixing room when the blast occurred, triggered by friction. Eight workers, Mahalingam, 55, Ramamoorthy, 45, Ramajeyam, 27, Lakshmi, 22, Vairamani, 32, Chellapandi, Nagapandi, and Punniamoorthy, died on the spot. Five others, Alaguraja, Lingasamy, Karuppasamy, Manikandan, and Murugalakshmi, 48, sustained injuries. The injured were admitted to Sivakasi govt hospital while Karuppasamy was referred to Virudhunagar govt medical college hospital, Alaguraja was referred to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai district for treatment. Police arrested the unit's foreman Ravi and are conducting further investigations . The unit owned by Kamalkumar and Selvam of Sivakasi had nearly 48 working sheds and 80 employees. Fire and rescue services personnel rushed in and doused the flames. Seven working sheds collapsed in the blast. Based on the complaint of the village administrative officer, Sattur town police registered a case against Kamalkumar, Selvam, and Mayakannan, who is the owner of the land where the fireworks unit is situated. Cases were also registered against foremen Ravi and Natarajan. Virudhunagar district collector N O Sukhaputra visited the fireworks unit and conducted an inquiry. He said officials from industrial safety and health are conducting an inspection to ascertain whether there were any violations in the unit. Steps are being taken by the officials to cancel the licence of the unit. While expressing sadness at the tragedy, chief minister M K Stalin announced a compensation of Rs4 lakh each to the family members of the deceased workers. He also announced Rs1 lakh each to the workers who sustained severe injuries and Rs50,000 each to those who sustained minor injuries. He said he had instructed doctors to provide proper treatment to the injured workers. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Time of India
Eight killed in TN firecracker making unit blast
VIRUDHUNAGAR: Eight workers were killed and five others injured in an explosion at a fireworks unit at Chinnakamanpatti village in Virudhunagar district on Tuesday. The incident happened at Gokulesh Fireworks near Sattur, a unit licensed by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation. Around 8.20am, workers were handling chemicals required for the manufacture of aerial crackers in the chemical mixing room when the blast occurred, triggered by friction, police said. Eight workers, Mahalingam, 55, Ramamoorthy, 45, Ramajeyam, 27, Lakshmi, 22, Vairamani, 32, Chellapandi, Nagapandi, and Punniamoorthy, died on the spot. Five others sustained injuries and were admitted to Sivakasi govt hospital. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Police arrested the unit's foreman Ravi and are conducting further investigations. The unit owned by Kamalkumar and Selvam of Sivakasi had nearly 48 working sheds and 80 employees. Fire and rescue services personnel rushed in and doused the flames. Seven working sheds collapsed in the blast. Based on the complaint of the village administrative officer, Sattur town police registered a case against Kamalkumar, Selvam, and Mayakannan, who is the owner of the land where the fireworks unit is situated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like local network access control Esseps Learn More Undo Cases were also registered against foremen Ravi and Natarajan. Virudhunagar district collector N O Sukhaputra visited the fireworks unit and conducted an inquiry. He said officials from industrial safety and health are conducting an inspection to ascertain whether there were any violations in the unit. Steps are being taken by the officials to cancel the licence of the unit. While expressing sadness at the tragedy, chief minister M K Stalin announced a compensation of Rs4 lakh each to the family members of the deceased workers. He also announced Rs1 lakh each to the workers who sustained severe injuries and Rs50,000 each to those who sustained minor injuries. He said he had instructed doctors to provide proper treatment to the injured workers. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
