Chennai: Six people were charred to death and more than 10 people sustained severe burn injuries in a fire accident at a wholesale fireworks shop at Sankarapuram in Kallakuruchi district of Tamilnadu on Tuesday night.
The fire engulfed adjacent shops. LPG cylinders in the shops burst, catalysing the fire.
Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of those who died in the cracker shop fire in Kallakurichi and Rs 1 lakh for the injured who are being treated in the emergency wards.
A video clip of the fire that emerged on social media shows a massive explosion turning the night sky into bright orange even as people, taken by surprise, could be heard shouting in shock.
Fire tenders from Sankarapuram and Kallakurichi rushed to the spot to put down the flames, even as the sudden blast leading to the explosion of the firecrackers caused a panic in the town.