Three killed in Sivakasi cracker unit fire

Chennai  : Three men were killed as an illegal firecracker unit caught fire near Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu Friday, police said.

The three men were working in the unauthorised unit, functioning out of a house near Sivakasi, around 540 km from here.

According to police, the accident happened in the morning. A search is on for the owner of the house where the incident occurred and his son, both of whom are now on the run.

Normally, crackers are produced in small rooms with space for not more than four people. The rooms have four doors so that workers can rush out in an emergency.

Nearly 90 percent of the country’s fireworks are made in Sivakasi, the oldest and largest hub of firecracker making in the country. Nearly 80 percent of the country’s matchboxes also come from Sivakasi.

Friday morning’s fire follows the devastating blaze Sep 5 at the Om Shakti Fire Works unit near Shivakasi, which left 38 dead.