2 dead, 1 injured in explosion at illegal firecracker unit in Tamil Nadu

SIVAKASI: An explosion at a clandestine firecracker manufacturing unit operating from an agricultural shed near Sengamalapatti in Virudhunagar district killed two people and left another critically injured on Sunday morning, police said.The blast completely damaged the makeshift shed, while fire and rescue personnel rushed to the spot to retrieve the victims from the debris.One of the deceased was identified as 38-year-old Ramprakash, while the identity of the other victim was yet to be established, police said.Ramprakash's brother, 40-year-old Ramachandran, suffered 60 per cent burn injuries in the explosion and was admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment.According to a senior police official, the brothers had been manufacturing firecrackers illegally in an attempt to avoid detection by authorities."They were running it clandestinely, mostly operating late in the night in a shed located in an agricultural field. The structure was otherwise used to store agricultural tools and, at times, crop yields," the senior police official told PTI.The official said the operation was kept entirely concealed from the local community.No one in the village suspected that explosive materials were being handled or manufactured at the premises, the official said.The explosion occurred early Sunday morning, completely damaging the makeshift tin shed and sending heavy smoke into the area.Following the blast, fire and rescue personnel, along with local police, reached the site to put out the flames and pull the victims from the debris.(With agency inputs)