Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu): At least 10 people including five women were killed and several others were critically injured in an explosion at a private firecracker factory in Ramu Devanpatti near Vembakottai in Virudhunagar district on Saturday.
Official sources said that the injured are currently undergoing treatment at Sivakasi Government Hospital. Firefighters and emergency services rushed to the spot on information and are engaged in the rescue operation, sources added. The factory is owned by a person named Vijay.
The injured have been rescued and admitted to the government hospital where they are currently undergoing treatment. Efforts are underway to locate the workers who may still be trapped inside the factory. Most of the injured were working at the factory when the blast occurred, police said.
Locals said that the intensity of the explosion was so high that three buildings in the vicinity were damaged. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the mishap occurred in the factory's room where chemicals were being mixed.
Police said that the cause of the explosion is yet to be ascertained but initial reports suggest that it may have been triggered by an accidental ignition. Investigations are underway, a police officer said.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with the firecracker industry and the need for stringent safety measures to prevent such tragedies. AIADMK leader Edappadi Palanisamy and AMMK general secretary TTV Dinakaran took to their X handles to express their grief.
Last year, eight people were killed and several others sustained injuries in an explosion at a firecracker factory in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri.
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