Sivakasi fire: 38 dead; fire-cracker factory licence was cancelled for violating safety norms

Sivakasi: With one more person succumbing to injuries, the death toll in the fire at a fire-cracker factory near Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu has now reached 38. At least 60 others have been injured.

The fire broke out at the factory, Om Siva Sakthi Crackers, at about 12:30 pm yesterday. It took 10 fire tenders close to five hours to bring it under control.

It has now emerged that the state Explosives Department had suspended the factory's licence on Tuesday, reportedly over at least 40 safety norm violations like over-crowding, wrongful mixing of chemicals and overstocking. The factory hence should not have been running operations yesterday.

Over 300 workers were believed to have been inside the factory when the fire broke out. But most of them reportedly managed to escape the building. Many of those killed are said to be people who were standing outside the factory. Many by-standers were injured by sparks that flew while some others were affected by the strong fumes.

Those seriously injured were taken to a multi-specialty hospital in Madurai, 100 kilometres from Sivakasi. The others were admitted to a government hospital in Sivakasi and also in Virudhnagar.

All 60 rooms in the factory building were gutted. These include 20 rooms that stored chemicals. The fire also spread to godowns about 200 feet away. Two of the three godowns in the factory were also burnt down.

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.

From: NDTV

Sivakasi: Major fire at fire-cracker factory, 25 feared dead

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.