Tamil Nadu: At least 13 people have died after explosions took place at two firecracker factories in Rangapalayam and Kichanayakanpatti regions in Virudhunagar district, the Fire and Rescue Department has informed.
"Seven charred bodies were recovered from the sudden blast at the fireworks unit in Rangapalayam, and their identities are yet to be established," a senior police official informed. The police suspect that they could be workers, he said.
Bodies have been sent to Virudhunagar government hospital for post-mortem. The cause of the fire is not known as of now.
According to police, one blast occurred in a cracker shop and the other in a cracker factory - Kanishar fireworks in Pudupatti while the second explosion occurred at Arya Fireworks Factory in Kichanayakanpatti.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin condoled the loss of lives in the accident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for the grievously injured.
A week before, seven people have lost their lives in a firecracker unit explosion at Sivakasi and in the past 15 days, 30 people have lost their lives in five separate incidents of firecracker explosions.
Sivakasi is known is the firecracker capital of India with an annual turnover of around Rs 6,000 crore.
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