Chennai: At least 25 people are feared killed and more than 70
have been injured in a huge fire at a fire-crackers factory in
Mudalipetti, near Sivakasi, in Tamil Nadu.
There are fears that the toll could rise. Over 300 people are believed to have been inside the factory, Om Siva Sakthi Crackers, when the fire broke out.
Majority of the workers reportedly managed to escape the building. All 60 rooms in the building are reported to be gutted. These include 20 rooms that stored chemicals. The fire also spread to godowns about 200 feet away. Two of three godowns in the factory have been burnt down. Some bystanders have been injured too by sparks that flew, some were affected by the strong fumes.
Ten fire tenders were sent to the spot. They approached the burning factory cautiously. Explosions were heard and huge gusts of fire billowed out of the building.
"The fire has been brought under control now. Blast and explosions went on for quite some time, so we couldn't go in. Fire fighters will go in now," said Najmul Huda, Superintendent of Police, Sivakasi.
Those seriously injured have been taken to a government hospital in Madurai, others are in a hospital in Sivakasi.
The chances of many children being trapped in the fire are remote as child labour has been eradicated to a large extent in the organised sector in Sivakasi; the factory that caught fire is part of that sector.
Sivakasi is India's biggest hub for the manufacture of matches and fire crackers. Work to meet the Diwali demand for crackers has been on in full swing in Sivakasi factories and factories have employees at work in full strength.
There are fears that the toll could rise. Over 300 people are believed to have been inside the factory, Om Siva Sakthi Crackers, when the fire broke out.
Majority of the workers reportedly managed to escape the building. All 60 rooms in the building are reported to be gutted. These include 20 rooms that stored chemicals. The fire also spread to godowns about 200 feet away. Two of three godowns in the factory have been burnt down. Some bystanders have been injured too by sparks that flew, some were affected by the strong fumes.
Ten fire tenders were sent to the spot. They approached the burning factory cautiously. Explosions were heard and huge gusts of fire billowed out of the building.
"The fire has been brought under control now. Blast and explosions went on for quite some time, so we couldn't go in. Fire fighters will go in now," said Najmul Huda, Superintendent of Police, Sivakasi.
Those seriously injured have been taken to a government hospital in Madurai, others are in a hospital in Sivakasi.
The chances of many children being trapped in the fire are remote as child labour has been eradicated to a large extent in the organised sector in Sivakasi; the factory that caught fire is part of that sector.
Sivakasi is India's biggest hub for the manufacture of matches and fire crackers. Work to meet the Diwali demand for crackers has been on in full swing in Sivakasi factories and factories have employees at work in full strength.
