Chennai, Feb 25 (BPNS)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin on Friday condoled the death of four people in a fireworks explosion in a manufacturing unit at Thuraiyoor in Thoothukudi district.
Stalin announced a solatium of Rs 3 lakh to the families of each of the four people killed in the blast and the amount would be disbursed from the account of the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund (CMPRF). This was announced by the Chief Minister’s office in a statement on Friday.
Those killed in the explosion on Thursday are Kannan 48 of Nallatinpudhur, Ramar 42 of Erachi, Jayaraj 47, of Thottampatti and Thangavel,43 of Kumarapauram were killed in the blast that took place on Thursday.
The blast occurred at the Century Fireworks on Kovilpatti- Pasuvanthani road at 2.15 pm on Thursday, the statement said.
The four were killed on the spot after the wall around the room shattered due to the blast.
It may be noted that blasts in fireworks are leaving several people dead in Sivakasi, Thurayoor, Viruduhunagar and some other areas of South Tamil Nadu.
R.M. Balu, a social worker who is actively involved in the upliftment of the fireworks factory workers and creating awareness among the workers regarding the possibility of accidents while speaking to BPNS said, “The firework blasts have led to loss of lives for four people and this is, sadly to say becoming a recurring phenomenon. Unless the government properly acts and puts a brake on the manufacturing of fireworks without getting a proper license, this will continue.”
While Sivakasi is one of the major hubs of fireworks in the country, with more than 75 % of the country’s fireworks needs being met here, several companies outsource their work to people who make fireworks without adhering to basic safety measures.
