Nearly 40 burnt to death as fireworks factory catches fire in Sivakasi
05 Sep 2012
More than 36 people were killed about 75 others were injured when a major fire and powerful explosion wrecked havoc in the cracker town of Sivakasi, in Tamil Nadu.
The fire that engulfed one of the biggest firework factories in Tamil Nadu, triggered a major fire, affecting more than 40 of the 48 sheds in the fireworks unit in Sivakasi
Sivakasi, a firecracker manufacturing hub about 480 km from Chennai, is home to 90 per cent of firecrackers manufactured in the country.
The disaster catching those working there as well as others unawares, police said.
The fire that occurred around 12.30 pm at the Om Shakthi Fireworks factory quickly engulfed the entire factory because a huge amount of raw materials and firecrackers being readied for the upcoming festival season.
Reports said villagers had to use bare arms and clothes to carry the injured to ambulances.