Sivakasi blast: Toll rises, six arrested

Six persons were arrested today in connection with the  fire at a cracker manufacturing unit at Mudhalipatti near here. With three more persons succumbing to burn injuries, the toll mounted to 39.

The arrested include those who had taken the Omshakthi Fireworks factory complex, where the fire broke out, on lease and its foreman, police said. Those taken to custody were identified as contractors Palpandi, Srikanth, Mahendran, Pandithurai, Annadurai and foreman Udhayakumar. Cases have been registered under Indian Explosive Act 286, 304, 338, 337, W9 (B). Search is on for the owner of the factory Murugesan, who is absconding.  Meanwhile, three more persons succumbed to injuries today, taking the the toll to 39, District Revenue Officer R Raju said. The condition of over 40 of the 70 people injured was stated to be serious in various hospitals. Following immediate instructions from Tamilnadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, a team of Cabinet Ministers rushed to the accident spot and  has begun supervising relief works since yesterday. Condoling the incident, she immediately announced a compensation of Rs two lakh each to next of kin of the deceased. The licence of the factory was suspended only two days ago prior to the accident and the entire products had been stored in a godown against rules, according to officials.  Yesterday, a blaze swept through the cracker factory complex at nearby Mudhalipatti. The factory and 48 sheds in the complex exploded in flames as the fire broke out when workers were mixing chemicals to make fancy fire crackers, trapping many in the inferno, police and fire brigade said. Explosions could be heard across more than two square kilometres in the sleepy village as thick plumes of smoke engulfed the area with bodies burnt beyond recognition and scores of injured lay all round presenting a sight of a battle zone. Almost all those killed were workers, with some persons who rushed inside the Omshakthi factory complex to try and rescue those trapped inside also falling victim to the blaze, police said. All the victims suffered more than 80 per cent burns. The entire production had been stored in a godown against official advice, they said. Victims screamed for help and many of the injured were carried on motorbikes, cots and on the shoulders of rescuers to hospitals, according to eyewitnesses. Officials said most workers were amateur and some trained in West Bengal were not fluent in Tamil to warn the people. Cracker units at Sivakasi, accounting for 90 per cent of firecracker production in the country, function at 'breakneck speed' ahead of the Deepavali festival, Virudhunagar District Superintendent of Police Najmul Hoda said. A factory official said 300 persons were at work at the unit at the time of the incident.