Mannargudi: Six people were killed in a blast at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Mannargudi, Thiruvarur district this morning.
Videos and pictures taken in the aftermath showed gory images of charred bodies of the deceased amidst the debris.
People at the spot in Mannai Nagar in Mannargudi, reported the blast at around 8.30 this morning. Firefighters rushed to the spot to extinguish the flames which had by then gutted the building completely.
Six people who were inside the manufacturing unit died on the spot. The victims have been identified as Suresh, Babu, Singaravelu, Mohan, Arivu, and Veerayyan. Local sources say Singaravelu who perished in the incident, used to manage the operations there.
Police team headed by Inspector Durai also arrived in a short while to assist the firefighters and have started an investigation. The firecracker unit was allegedly functioning without proper permits and did not follow any fire safety protocols.
Fortunately, since the building was in an isolated place away from populated areas, no one else was injured and no other buildings nearby sustained damage.
Locals said that the firecracker unit is one among the many such micro manufacturing units on the outskirts that make local ‘naatu vedi’ and aerial display crackers. They added that these units including the one that was gutted by the blast have been functioning for many years without checks. These units usually sell firecrackers for village festivals, marriages, and funerals.
Sources say District Collector, T Anand who is currently on election duty will visit the spot to console the families, assess damage and take action.