Two Sivakasi fire cracker units go up in flames

Blasts were triggered by raging flames that engulfed two fire cracker units Thursday near Sivakasi town in Tamil Nadu, authorities said. There were immediately no reports of casualties.

The massive fire broke out at Chidambaram fire works and quickly spread to the adjoining Krishnaswamy fire works.

Three fire tenders battled the fire after information was received at around 1.20 p.m., said an official at the Sivakasi Fire Station.

He said fire tenders were engaged in putting out the flame while blasts could be heard.

Inspector P. Parthiban at Maraneri police station in Sivakasi told IANS that a 50-year-old woman got injured while running away from the fire. The fire broke out during lunch time due to which there were no casualties and workers escaped unscathed.

The official said the fire cracker unit is around four km from the police station and nine km from Sivakasi town.

Senior officials rushed to the spot.

According to officials, Chidambaram fire cracker unit is engaged in making fancy fire crackers.

Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district, around 510 km from here, is one of the oldest and biggest firecracker manufacturing hubs in India. Nearly 90 percent of the country's fireworks are made in Sivakasi along with 80 percent of the safety matches.

Low rainfall and dry climate are conductive for this industry in Sivakasi where the annual turnover is over Rs.2,000 crore.