Rohan Umak
Tamil Nadu factory blast updates: The catastrophic blast that occurred at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar on Sunday noon has left behind a trail of destruction. Initially, the death toll stood at 20, which has risen to 23 by Monday, and many bodies are charred beyond recognition.
The kin of the deceased are awaiting DNA tests to identify their loved ones, as forensic teams are continuing their investigation at the spot. Officials confirmed that the victims sustained such severe burns that their visual identification is impossible now, and the authorities have to rely only on scientific methods.
DNA tests the only option for recognition
The family members of the deceased assembled outside hospitals and mortuaries, and expressed anguish over the delay in the identification process. A relative of one of the victims said that the doctors informed them that DNA testing was the only way forward.
One Mariselvam is among the bereaved, who lost three of his kin in the blast. He said that the unit typically remains shut on Sundays, but the workers showed up due to the promise of being given higher wages. He said, “At least 30 people were working in the verandah, instead of the usual two or three, which has pushed the death toll so high.”
Secondary blast triggered at facility after first fatal one
Notably, the rattling explosion occurred at 3:30 pm on Sunday at the Vanaja fireworks units, while workers were handling raw materials and finishing firecrackers. The blast was so intense that it tore through the verandah, reducing three rooms to rubble and flattening nearby structures.
The mishap did not end here, as a second explosion occurred during rescue operations, in which a fire service personnel was grievously injured. Rescue teams battled immense risk as parts of the structure collapsed, while the bodies were being pulled from the debris. Authorities said that 19 women and 4 men were among the ones who lost their lives in the tragedy.
Tamil Nadu factory blast updates: Factory owner on the run, cops launch manhunt
Four fire tenders from Virudhunagar and Sivakasi doused the flames after the incident, and were able to contain them by 8 pm. The district’s Superintendent of Police (SP) N Shreenatha said the owner of the factory is on the run, and special police teams have been constituted to trace him.
