Explosion at a firecracker factory near Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu has claimed as many as 56 lives on Wednesday, which questioned the fire safety measures taken by crackers factories yet another time. Despite governments warning firecracker companies to ensure that necessary fire safety norms should be maintained, such incidents are taking place in Sivakasi time and again. And the worst part of Om Shakti Fireworks was that the licence of this factory was expired long ago. However, the owner of this company presumably kept it as a secret and gave the company for a lease to some other person, who allegedly employed children and made them work for longer hours against the labour laws.
When almost 300 persons were busy inside Om Shakti Fireworks factory yesterday, a sudden explosion took place and fire engulfed the building in no time. While tens of hundreds managed to escape unhurt, hundreds of them sustained major injuries and were shifted to the near by hospital. And those who were trapped inside were, unfortunately, turned down to ashes. Earlier, it was reported that only 10 persons were killed and death toll slowly mounted to 30 and then finally to 56.
The condition of 40 persons, who sustained major injuries, was said to be critical. Therefore, the sources said that the death might further mount.
Officials ask locals to evacuate:
The police officials have asked the people residing within the radius of three kilometres from Om Shakti Fire Works to vacate their houses immediately since the environment was apparently polluted with hazardous chemicals, which had spread in the air after the explosion. Meanwhile, several persons including journalists, who went inside the building to rescue people who were trapped under the debris were fainted due to the strong chemical smells inside the burnt building.
Ex-Gratia:
The Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha has announced an Ex-Gratia of Rs. Two lakh to the kin of the deceased and Rs. 25,000 to the grievously injured and Rs. 10, 000 each to mildly injured persons in the mishap. She has also sent six ministers to Sivakasi in order to condole the death of several persons. Meanwhile, prime minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi have expressed their solidarity with the victims.
The police have launched manhunt to nab the owner of Om Shakti Fireworks, who had been absconding since yesterday.
(AW Phani)
