At least 16 people were killed and six others injured after a massive explosion at a fireworks manufacturing unit near Kattanarpatti near Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu on Sunday, April 19, officials said.
“So far, 8 bodies have been recovered from the site,” ANI news agency quoted a fire and rescue department official as saying. He added that rescue operations are continuing for workers who are feared to be trapped inside the manufacturing unit.
The Pakistan News Agency quoted the police as saying that the explosion occurred when about 30 people were working in a fire manufacturing unit in Katanarpatti near Virudhunagar, adding that due to the explosion some parts of the building also collapsed.
In response to this tragedy, Prime Minister MK Stalin expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. He also said that he had asked Ministers KKSSR Ramachandran and Thangam Thennarasu to reach the blast site to monitor rescue operations and support the bereaved families.
“The tragic news of the deaths of several people in the fireworks factory explosion that took place in Kattanapati, Virudhunagar district, causes great grief. I offer my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives,” Stalin wrote in a post on X.
“I have requested Hon’ble Ministers KKSSR Ramachandran and Thangam Thenarasu to rush to the spot immediately to speed up and monitor the rescue operations and extend condolences to the affected families. When I learned about this, I contacted the district collector and instructed them to coordinate all necessary assistance,” he added.
This explosion comes just days after another similar tragedy occurred in Virudhunagar district earlier this week on Monday, April 13, when a massive explosion occurred at a fireworks factory near Satur.
(with wire input)
