Three workers die in fireworks unit blast near Sivakasi

VIRUDHUNAGAR: Three workers died in a blast in a fireworks manufacturing unit near Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu on Thursday.
The deceased have been identified as Kumaresan,33, of Mamsapuram, Sundaraj,27, of Pallapatti and Ayyammal,70.
The blast happened in a fireworks unit owned by Kadarkarai at Oorampatti. There were more than 40 sheds in the unit, and 70 employees were working. The unit was licensed by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation.
Around noon, when the employees were mixing chemicals for the manufacture of crackers in a working shed, a blast was triggered due to friction. The shed collapsed in the impact. Four workers -- Kumaresan, Sundaraj, Ayyammal and Irulayi,45 -- sustained severe injuries. They were rushed to the Sivakasi Government Hospital. Kumaresan, and Subdaraj and Ayyammal succumbed to their injuries.
The Maraneri police were investigating.