37 killed in blaze in Sivakasi's firecracker factory: Latest developments

Over 300 people were believed to have been inside the factory, Om Siva Sakthi Crackers, when the fire broke out this afternoon. Majority of the workers reportedly managed to escape the building. It has now emerged that the state Explosives Department had suspended the factory's licence yesterday.

Those killed were bystanders who were present outside the factory, Om Siva Sakthi Crackers, when the incident occurred. Many were also injured by sparks that flew while some others were affected by the strong fumes.

Ten fire tenders were sent to the spot. They approached the burning factory cautiously. Explosions were heard and huge gusts of fire billowed out of the building. Fire officials said that due to a variety of chemicals used in pyrotechnics crackers, there was thick and suffocating smoke, making their task difficult to enter the factory. The smoke could be seen 1.5 km away from the spot.

So far, the firefighters have not found anyone trapped inside. All 60 rooms in the building are reported to be gutted. These include 20 rooms that stored chemicals.

The fire also spread to godowns about 200 feet away. Two of three godowns in the factory have been burnt down.

Those seriously injured have been taken to the government hospitals in Madurai and Virudhnagar.

The chances of many children being trapped in the fire are remote as child labour has been eradicated to a large extent in the organised sector in Sivakasi; the factory that caught fire is part of that sector.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has deputed five of her cabinet colleagues, including Finance Minister O Panneerselvam to console the relatives and meet the injured in hospital. (Read more)

The state government has announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for the families of those killed; Rs 25,000 for the victims with severe injuries; and Rs 10,000 for those with minor injuries.

Sivakasi is India's biggest hub for the manufacture of matches and fire crackers. Work to meet the Diwali demand for crackers has been on in full swing in Sivakasi factories and factories have employees at work in full strength.