The Hindu : Four killed in blast at fireworks unit

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 23, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Four killed in blast at fireworks unit

By Our Staff Reporter

VELUR (THRISSUR DIST.) MARCH 22. Four persons were killed in an explosion that rocked a fireworks manufacturing unit in a remote area near Velur, 25 km from here, this afternoon.

Police gave the names of the victims as Thankappu (50) and Remesh (30), both from Velur, Anil Kumar from Koottanad, on the Thrissur-Malappuram border, and his brother, Mohan. All the four were working in the unit when the explosion occurred. The blast shook the area with its high decibel sound.

Rajan from Velur, who was working in the unit, was missing since the accident. The police said his whole family was absconding after the mishap, apparently fearing any interrogation in connection with the accident. A thorough search would be conducted in the area to find out whether any more bodies are present at the scene of the accident. Parts of the bodies were strewed all around, as much as 500 metres, in the impact of the explosion. None of the bodies was intact.

The factory is located in an isolated rubber plantation adjacent to the Manimalarkavu temple - one reason why the casualty was minimum. The production of fireworks was being done in tents made of cloths. Since the production and storing were being done separately, the impact of the explosion was minimum. Large quantities of explosives were being stored in a separate tent, but it escaped the blast.

The unit owned by Davies Olakkenkil is a licensed one. The explosion occurred when the unit was reportedly engaged in the production of fireworks for the ensuing famous Nenmara-Vellangi Vela festival. The unit had just completed the production of huge quantities of fireworks for the Kothara Vela festival near Chalissery being held today.

A visit to the spot indicated that the unit possessed hardly any safety measures. Even access was much strenuous as it is located inside a forest-like plantation. No facilities such as fire extinguisher or emergency treatment facilities were available in the vicinity. The owner was absconding after the accident.

There was a major accident in the same unit about ten years ago claiming ten lives.

The Collector, V. M. Gopala Menon, the SP, Janardanan Nair, and other senior officials visited the spot to supervise the relief and rescue operations. The police have begun an investigation into the blast.

Experts of the Forensic and Explosive Departments are likely to visit the spot on Sunday.

The Revenue Minister, K. M. Mani, who was in the district when the accident occurred, has directed the Collector to take immediate relief measures to the victims. The Collector has granted Rs. 1,000 as interim relief to the relatives of the deceased.

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