The death toll has tragically reached 25 following a powerful explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Kattanarpatti near Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu. The blast occurred at the Vanaja Firecracker Factory, owned by Muthu Manickam, with over 30 workers present during the incident. The explosion, caused by friction during production, resulted in the destruction of several factory rooms, with the sound heard up to 10 kilometers away.
More than 12 injured individuals are receiving treatment at the Virudhunagar Government Medical College Hospital, where two women, Panchavarnam and Pechiammal, succumbed to their injuries. The death toll has now risen to 25. A case has been filed against the factory operators, Easwari and Muthumanickam, who are currently missing, with police forming special teams for their search.
Following post-mortem examinations, 21 bodies have been identified, while efforts are ongoing to identify the remaining four. Relatives of the deceased have demanded Rs 5 lakhs compensation in the form of a Demand Draft, leading to a delay in accepting the bodies. Security measures have been heightened at the site with over 50 police personnel deployed.
