TEN people including four women were killed in an explosion at a fireworks factory in this district on Saturday. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin directed two State Ministers to coordinate the rescue and relief activities. TheChiefMinistersaid a sudden explosion in a firecracker manufacturingunitinKundayiruppu village in Vembakottai resultedin the death often people - sixmenandfour women. He has directed StateRevenueMinisterK K S S R Ramachandran and Labour Minister C V Ganesan to immediately rush to the spot and ensure rescue and relief activities, an official release here said. Expressing anguish over the accident, the Chief Minister conveyed hisheartfeltcondolences and sympathies to the bereaved families.

 

He has ordered a solatium of Rs 3 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs one lakh to the grievously injured. The mishap occurred around 12.30 pm on Saturday in the chemicalmixingroomof the firecracker making unit in the village. “Initially 9 persons died due to the explosion and 3 who were injured were rushed to Sivakasi GovernmentHospitalfor treatment,”Virudhunagar district Collector V P Jayaseelan said. Preliminary enquiry revealed that there was overcrowding in the chemical mixing room, and that the explosion couldhavebeentriggered when the chemical was being handled, he said. The factory owner had a licence.