Tamil Nadu Fireworks Warehouse Explosion: 9 Dead, Several Injured in Kancheepuram; Probe Underway

Nine people were killed and several injured in an explosion at a firecracker warehouse in Kancheepuram district, officials said on Wednesday. The injured were rushed to the hospital, officials added.

Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed his sympathies to the kin of the deceased and announced that the government would provide relief of Rs 3 lakh to each of the nine families. In a statement in Chennai, he also announced an aid of Rs one lakh each for those severely injured in the fire accident.

According to officials, the explosion took place when workers were engaged in processes related to the manufacturing and storage of the firecrackers. Nine workers died and 12 others were injured in the blaze and are undergoing treatment at various hospitals.

Speaking on the incident which took place in Kuruvimalai village, Kancheepuram Collector M Aarthi told ANI, a recuse operation is underway at the site and police will further investigate. “Rescue operation is going on. Spot is clear. Police would investigate more on this. Post that we would know more details,” she told ANI.

The building that housed the manufacturing-cum-storage facility collapsed in the impact of the explosion.

Officials said the cause of the accident is being investigated and violations have been identified, police said.

The incident comes a day after three people were critically injured in a fire at a fireworks unit at Mahestala in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal.

Fire Services minister Sujit Basu said the three people injured, stated to be son and daughter-in-law of the fireworks unit owner and a teenaged neighbourhood girl, were taken to Vidyasagar Hospital, Behala in very critical condition.

“It is too early to say if the fireworks unit was functioning with a valid license and if it had all the documents. We will confirm the exact cause of fire by forensic test after the blaze is totally put out and the situation brought under control,” he said.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)

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