At least 15 workers killed in TN fireworks unit explosion

TIL Desk/National/TN/ At least 15 workers were killed and over 30 injured when an explosion ripped through a fireworks factory near Sattur in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu on Friday, police said. The explosion occurred when some chemicals were being mixed to produce fireworks at the unit in Acchankulam village, they said, adding the injured had been hospitalised.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami, Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Dravida Munnetra kazhagam president M K Stalin were among those who condoled the deaths.

While Palaniswami earlier in a statement in Chennai said 11 people were killed on the spot and 36 injured, police said four succumbed at hospitals hours after admission. Over 30 injured were presently undergoing treatment.

Modi and Palaniswami announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each and 3 lakh each to the kin of the deceased from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund and the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund respectively.