A blast at a firecracker unit in Karayamputhur, Puducherry has left three dead and two injured. Two women, Deepa (30) and Gnanambal alias Varalakshmi (35), died on the spot while three injured were rushed to the local government hospital. Another woman Vaitheeswari (27) succumbed to injuries at the hospital. The blast reportedly took place at a godown unit of a small-scale manufacturing unit. The workers had been preparing fireworks for Deepavali.
According to a report in the Hindu, the fire took place during the mixing stage of chemicals used in fireworks at the godown. The newspaper reports that the godown was that of a licensed manufacturing unit. The incident which occurred on the outskirts of the union territory burnt the entire unit.
An unknown amount of fireworks have been reduced to paper, with the refuse strewn over the area. Fire tenders who rushed to the spot struggled to contain the fire. However, it was eventually brought under control.
The injured were rushed to the Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital in Puducherry. They are said to be in a critical condition. Two women among the injured have been identified as Gunasundari, aged 45, and Kalamani.
A case has been registered at the Kirumampakkam police station.
Earlier in September, three persons died and over a dozen were injured when a minivan carrying fireworks exploded on its way out of Puducherry. The vehicle was brought to a stop after driver Elavarasan and cleaner Saibaba reportedly noticed smoke coming out of the vehicle. The minivan exploded even as the duo attempted to put the fire out. They, along with an unidentified bystander, were burnt to death.