Man injured in firework unit dies

SIVAKASI: A 48-year-old man, who suffered severe burn injuries in an accident at a fireworks unit at Viswanatham near Sivakasi, succumbed on Sunday evening at the centre of excellence to treat burn injuries here.
The accident occurred on Saturday afternoon while workers were cutting safety fuses — wicks — used in fireworks. Eight workers handling the fuses were engulfed in the fire and suffered serious burn injuries.The injured were taken to the Sivakasi hospital of which two were later moved to a private hospital in Madurai.
Kannan, 48, from Watrap succumbed to injuries failing to respond to treatment and died around 8pm on Sunday. Hospital sources said that remaining injured workers are still critical since they had suffered more than 80% burn injuries. Meanwhile, Sivakasi Town police, who have registered a case, arrested two of the factory staff and remanded them. R Kannan, foreman of the fireworks unit from Viswanatham and manager, T S Sekarapandian from Virudhunagar were arrested by the police on charges of negligence of dealing with explosive substance, causing grievous hurt read with Explosives Act Section 9 (B) (1) (A), police sources at Sivakasi Town police said.
The owner of the unit is also named in the case but he is yet to be secured since he is absconding, police officials said.