Tamil-Nadu-based factory catches fire while making aluminium powder for fireworks manufacturing

On Monday, a tragic fire incident occurred at a unit supplying raw materials to fireworks factories in Sengamalapatti near Sivakasi, Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu. Owned by R Chinnakaruppu, the unit saw five workers sustain critical injuries while producing aluminium powder from sheets, an essential ingredient in fireworks manufacturing.  Sengamalapatti is a village panchayat located in the Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu state, India.

The injured were swiftly taken to Sivakasi Government Hospital, where they remain in critical condition. According to sources, the fire erupted suddenly while the workers were grinding chemicals, swiftly engulfing the shed with a deafening roar. 

Firefighters from Sivakasi rushed to the scene but encountered difficulties in extinguishing the flames. Initial investigations suggest that recent rains had damaged the shed, and repair work was underway. Police sources speculate that a spark from a welding machine may have ignited the fire.

Sivakasi DSP Subbaiah and district fire officer Vivekanandan investigated the accident site, with police registering a case for further inquiry. Meanwhile, in a separate incident at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Enjar near Sivakasi, a blast occurred, fortunately resulting in no injuries to workers.