- विज्ञापन -
Chennai: An explosion at a fireworks factory in Sattur, located in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar district, has resulted in the deaths of six workers, with several others suffering from burns.
According to the Sattur Police, the death toll may increase as many of the injured individuals are in critical condition at the hospital. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, but initial reports suggest that it might have been triggered by a power leak or friction between explosives during firecracker preparation.
The Fire Department responded quickly to the incident, extinguishing the fire and conducting rescue operations. Police are actively investigating the scene.
Recently, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin visited the Virudhunagar district, urging fireworks factory owners to implement safety measures to prevent such tragedies. He also spoke with workers, assuring them that he had instructed factory owners to take necessary precautions.
Despite the Chief Minister’s visit and commitments, incidents like this continue to occur in the area. Virudhunagar, particularly Sivakasi, is known as the fireworks capital of Tamil Nadu, housing the majority of the state’s firecracker factories.
The district is home to over 300 factories, employing nearly 400,000 workers across 1,150 establishments, with Sivakasi alone producing 70% of India’s firecrackers. In 2024, there were 17 reported accidents in firecracker factories in Virudhunagar, leading to 54 deaths.
The fireworks industry in Tamil Nadu generates an annual revenue of around Rs 6,000 crore. However, industry leaders have reported a significant drop in production due to restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court, which has upheld a ban on barium nitrate—a key ingredient in firecracker manufacturing—and set additional limitations on joined crackers, which are a series of firecrackers connected by a fuse. As a result, business owners in Sivakasi have noted a 30% reduction in production.
