Chennai: A powerful explosion caused due to friction in using chemicals killed eight persons and left several others with burn injuries at a private fireworks unit near Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district in south Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.
The explosion took place at the Gokhale’s Fireworks unit at Chinnakamanpatti village in the morning. Police said the bodies of two workers were charred beyond recognition. The injured have been admitted to the Government Hospital in Sivakasi.
Police said an explosion was heard at the unit at around 8.45 a.m. “This is a fireworks unit licensed by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and located on Sivakasi-Sattur road,” a police officer said. Friction caused while handling chemicals during the making of aerial fireworks goods is believed to have triggered the fire accident.
Eight working sheds were razed to ground in the impact of the blast, police said.
