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CHENNAI: At least 23 people, including women workers at a private firecracker manufacturing unit, were killed and several were injured in an explosion in Kattanarpatti in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar district on Sunday, police said.
Due to the blast, some portions of the firecrackers factory building also collapsed, said police. (File Photo)"So far, we have recovered 23 bodies. The identification process is going on…." a government official said.
A fire department official said about 30 workers were at the unit when the incident occurred at around 3:30 pm on Sunday.
According to PTI, the blast occurred on the front veranda of the firecracker factory, 'Vanaja' fireworks. The impact of the blast was so severe that at least three rooms were reduced to rubble, and several adjacent structures were completely levelled.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister MK Stalin were among those who condoled the deaths.
“The loss of lives in a tragic accident at a firecracker factory in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu is deeply distressing. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery,” she said in a post on X.
PM Modi also described the mishap as “deeply distressing”. “I extend my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest,” he said in a post on X.
Chief Minister MK Stalin also condoled the deaths and instructed the district administration to coordinate all necessary assistance. Stalin said he had instructed ministers KKSSR Ramachandran and Thangam Thennarasu to rush to the spot and monitor the rescue operations.
"The tragic news of the deaths of several people in the firecracker factory explosion that occurred in Kattanapatti, Virudhunagar district, causes immense sorrow. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives," he said in a post on X.
"I have instructed district collector NO Sukhaputra and told them to coordinate all necessary assistance," he added.