Chennai, Sep 17
A fire at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district claimed the life of a Sri Lankan woman and left five others injured on Wednesday, officials said.
The accident occurred at Divya Pyrotechnics in Gangarseval under Alangulam police station limits when sparks from friction while handling chemicals triggered a blaze that spread rapidly through the shed.
The deceased has been identified as 50-year-old B. Gowri, a resident of the Sri Lankan Tamil Rehabilitation Camp at Thulukkankurichi.
The injured have been identified as S. Kalimuthu, 53, who is in a critical condition with 100 per cent burns, and K. Meghala, 21, who sustained 40 per cent burns.
Three other women workers - V. Sivaranjani, 39, Vijayalakshmi, 60, and K. Mariammal, 40 - also suffered burn injuries.
Wednesday’s tragedy has once again highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive safety measures and strict monitoring to prevent such disasters from recurring in the fireworks hub of Tamil Nadu.