Sivakasi cracker factory that caught fire was running illegally: police

Chennai: The investigations into the cause of the fire that gutted a fire cracker factory in Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday have thrown up some startling facts. The police have confirmed that the plant was operating illegally when the fatal fire broke out.

It had been inspected less than 24 hours earlier and ordered to close temporarily due to violations. But the factory owners did not comply, a decision that clearly proved fatal. Almost 300 people were inside the plant when the tragedy occured, 37 died and several others were injured in the blaze.

"We have a created a special medical team to treat these patients. We are providing all facilities to the affected, we would administer treatment to them in a separate ward. We have all the facilities for the burn injuries like a special doctor and a team of plastic surgeons," said Dr Nandagopal, who was treating the injured.

The government has announced Rs 2 lakh as compensation for each victim\'s family.

The government has announced Rs 2 lakh as compensation for each victim's family. But no arrests have been made yet for running the plant illegally.

The entire incident now brings back into focus the necessity of a safety system which has to be put in place across all of such fire cracker factories that are setup in Sivakasi, especially during the Diwali season when all of them work around the clock to complete big orders that come to them.

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Also See

• Tamil Nadu: At least 37 dead, 60 hurt in fire at Sivakasi cracker factory

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