Worker killed in blast at fireworks unit

Virudhunagar: A worker of a fireworks unit was killed in a blast at the unit situated at Marknathapuram here on Saturday.The deceased A Jayachitra, 24, was working in the unit owned by Kesavan and licensed by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation. There are more than 50 working sheds in the unit.During the afternoon, a blast was reported in a room where raw materials such as chemicals required for the manufacture of crackers were stored. The fire started to spread and the finished crackers which were kept in the office room of the unit started to burst. Jayachitra who was an accountant died as she was in the office room.Fire and rescue services personnel rushed to the spot and put out the fire. As many as 12 two-wheelers parked inside the unit were completely gutted.Expressing his condolences, chief minister M K Stalin announced a solatium of Rs3 lakh to the family members of the deceased. Meanwhile, a major fire broke out in an aluminium alloy manufacturing unit at Sengamalapatti village near Sivakasi. There was rainfall with thunderstorms in and around Sivakasi. Due to lightning strike, a fire broke out in the unit.TNN