2 arrested in connection with firework mishap

A day after eight people were killed in a fire cracker mishap here, police today arrested two persons in this connection, even as a special task force has been formed to monitor periodically all firework units.
Police said they have registered cases against six persons in connection with yesterday's incident, wherein a fire broke out while crackers were being offloaded from a van to a shop-cum-godown.
Shenbagaraman and Ananda Rajan, who were managing the godown and among the six booked, were arrested, they said.
In a related development, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court took suo motu cognisance of media reports about the mishap and directed government officials concerned to file a report on safety violations that led to the deaths.

A division bench directed the Joint Director of Explosives, among others, to be present before it and submit a detailed report once the present investigation was over.
Police said they also questioned godown owner Suthanthirarajan, driver of the van and loadmen in connection with the mishap in this firework hub in Virudhunagar district.

The incident has yet again brought to focus safety measures in handling fireworks.
The deaths occurred due to suffocation as a result of excess fumes. Six women were among those who died.
District officials today said a special task force had been formed to monitor and check all fireworks units and factories periodically, and find out if safety measures were being followed as per government guidelines.

Meanwhile, officials of Controller of Explosives department are investigating the reason for the fire and lapses if any.
District Superintendent of Police Rajarajan warned that all fireworks shops should ensure safety of workers and the public.
Action would be taken against the fireworks unit owners who violated the guidelines, he said.
In the wake of the latest accident, political parties have sought stern action to put an end to recurring firework mishaps in the district.
Expressing concern over the recurring accidents, BJP Tamil Nadu President Thamizhisai Soundarrajan demanded stern action and proper measures to prevent such mishaps.
Fire cracker accidents were now becoming too frequent in cracker factories and outlets in the state, she told reporters in Thirukkadiyur in Nagapattinam district.