Two workers killed in explosion at firecracker unit in TN

Theni (Tamil Nadu), Apr 25 (PTI) Two workers were killed in a powerful explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit near Cumbum in this district on Saturday, police said.

The mishap occurred at a factory located on Kattupallivasal road.
The unit, owned by one Muthulakshmi, had reportedly been closed for the past four days due to election holidays and had only reopened for work on Saturday morning.

According to police sources, the blast took place when two workers, identified as Surya (22) and Dinesh alias Deena (23), opened the room where raw materials and chemicals were stored.
The duo was killed on the spot as the impact of the explosion caused their bodies to be ripped apart.

Two other workers, Ayyappan and Nagarjun, who were present at the facility, managed to escape unhurt as they fled the premises immediately after hearing the loud blast.

Fire and Rescue Services personnel rushed to the scene to extinguish the resulting blaze, while the police recovered the remains of the deceased and sent them to the Government Theni Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination.

A team from the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) also conducted an inquiry to collect samples from the debris.

"We have registered a case and are investigating whether the unit was manufacturing high-decibel crackers or other banned varieties without proper authorization. A probe is also underway to ascertain if safety norms were bypassed," a senior official said.

Revenue department officials from the District Collectorate are also conducting a parallel inquiry into the licensing and operational standards of the factory.
The incident has sparked significant tension and grief in the local community.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)