Explosion at Firecracker Unit Kills 11 TN Workers, Violation of Rules Alleged

On 22 March, a massive explosion at a firecracker unit in Tamil Nadu's Kancheepuram resulted in the deaths of at least 11 people and injured nearly 20 others. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a solatium of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. Narendran Fireworks at Kuruvimalai, near Orikkai village, Kancheepuram district, had reportedly violated the standard time of operation in summer, The Times of India reported. Though the factory is a licensed firecracker manufacturing unit, it reportedly did not possess a No Objection Certificate from the Fire and Rescue Service Department, South First reported.