Seven dead in Sivakasi firecracker unit blast; foreman detained

Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu: A tragic explosion at a private firecracker manufacturing unit in Chinnakamanpatti, near Sivakasi, claimed the lives of seven workers on Monday, including two women. The blast occurred at around 10 am while employees were engaged in routine production tasks.

The explosion was powerful enough to completely destroy four rooms within the unit. Fire and rescue teams rushed to the scene and battled the flames, which had quickly spread throughout the premises. Intermittent explosions continued for a while, sparking panic among nearby residents.

Five workers -- two women and three men -- were killed instantly, while four others sustained severe injuries. Despite efforts by medical staff, two of the injured later died at the Virudhunagar Government Hospital, bringing the total death toll to seven.

Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the cause of the blast. The unit’s foreman has been taken into custody for questioning.