Four workers of a fireworks unit were injured in a fire accident at Viswanatham in Sivakasi on Thursday. The condition of two workers is said to be critical.
The police said that the fire accident was triggered due to friction while handling chemicals in one of the units at Viswanatham at around 12.45 p.m. Four persons working in the particular shed suffered burn injuries. P. Nagarajan (30) and S. Vellaichamy (33), both from Laxmiyapuram, suffered grievous injuries with 85 per cent and 100 per cent burns respectively. Other two workers, N. Ashok Kumar (25) and Muthusamy (28), had injuries less than 15 per cent. All the injured were given first-aid at the Government Hospital at Sivakasi, Sivakasi Sub-Collector Amar Kushwaha said. While the critically injured were admitted to a private hospital here, the others were taken to a private hospital in Sivakasi.
The police said that the owner of the unit, A.M.S.V. Ashokan, manager, S. Mariappan, and the foreman, Chandrabose, were booked for negligent conduct with respect to explosive substances, endangering life, and under the provisions of Indian Explosives Act. The Sivakasi Town police have arrested the manager.