Varaganur fireworks unit blast: Death toll climbs to five

TIRUNELVELI: The death toll climbed to five in the blast at a closed fireworks unit in Varaganur village near Sankarankovil on May 15, here on Monday. This takes the death toll the accidents in the unit to 11 - an explosion while manufacturing fireworks in the unit on February 22, claimed six lives and left four severely injured.
All the victims were labourers working in the unit which was closed down by the Tirunelveli district administration. On May 15, the victims were chopping wood close to the unit when fire from food they were preparing spread to the sealed unit and set off the explosion. Five people including a teenager suffered severe burn injuries and were hospitalised.
Gopal, 61, and Gurusamy, 62, died at the Sivakasi Government Hospital the same day. Kanagaraj, 46, who was getting treated at the Tirunelveli Medical College and Hospital (TVMCH) died on May 17. Arjun, 17, who was undergoing treatment in the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai died on the May 18. The last surviving victim Kamaraj, 62, also breathed his last at the TVMCH on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Thiruvengadam Police who registered a case under four sections of the Indian Penal Code said that investigations were still underway and that they yet to fix the accused responsible for the death of the five.