Chennai, Oct 27 (BPNS)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin has announced a solatium of Rs 5 lakh to the family of those who was killed in a firecracker shop mishap on Tuesday night at Sankarapuram in  Kallakurichi  district of the state.

Chief Minister also announced an interim relief money of Rs 1 lakh to those who are admitted in the intensive care unit of Kallakurichi government hospital.

Five people were killed and eight injured in the incident that occurred on Tuesday night at Kallakurichi.  The deceased are Khaleed (23),  Shah Alam (25),  Shaikh Basheer (67), and Ayyasamy (62) . Police said that the identity of the fifth person is still not known and is expected to get his identity soon.

Eight persons who are admitted to the intensive care unit of Kallakurichi government hospital are in serious condition.

Police sources told IANS that the mishap occurred due to a short circuit in an electric line and more investigation is on to ascertain the exact cause. A grocery shop was converted into a firecracker shop ahead of the Deepavali season and business was brisk when the incident occurred on Tuesday night.

The whole building was engulfed in fire and police and fire personal from Sankarapuram and Kallakurichi arrived on the scene to douse the fire. Kallakurichi district collector P.N. Sridhar told media persons that the fire was doused after around three hours of intense efforts by the team of fire force personal and the police units that rushed to the spot. The team cordoned off the area and commenced rescue operations and saved the grievously injured from the fire engulfed building.

State Minister E.V. Velu reached the spot and visited the injured at the Intensive care unit of the Kallakurichi government hospital on Tuesday night itself. Police said that further investigation is on into the incident and whether the grocery shop that was converted into a firecracker shop had the mandatory license to conduct firecracker business and whether the shop had the precautionary measures required to conduct a firecracker business.

The state government had issued warnings to the people and the firecracker manufacturers and traders to be safe during the Deepavali season.