Two killed in blast at Theni firecracker unit

Theni: Two workers were killed in an explosion at a firecracker unit when a room containing chemicals was opened in Cumbum in Theni district on Saturday morning. Police have arrested the unit's manager in this connection.Police said the incident happened at Lakshmi Fireworks at Kattupallivasal Street in Cumbum. Around 9.30am, the workers opened the unit's chemical mixing room after a week's holiday when the blast happened resulting in the immediate death of two workers. The deceased were identified as Dinesh alias Deenadayalan, 23, and Surya Prabu, 21, from Cumbum. Police said the room was not opened with the required caution as it should have been opened slowly. Fire and rescue personnel from Uthamapalayam and Cumbum along with police rushed to the spot and doused the fire in 30 minutes. Police recovered the bodies and sent them to Theni Govt Medical College Hospital for autopsy.While the unit was operating with only five workers, on the day of the incident four of them reported for duty. Two of them were standing near the main entrance and escaped unhurt. A case was registered by Cumbum North police, and further investigation is underway.Police have arrested unit manager Thirupathi Raja, husband of the licencee Muthulakshmi. It may recalled that a blast in a firecracker manufacturing unit at Kattanarpatti in Virudhunagar district on April 19 had claimed the lives of 25 people and left six injured.