Overview

• Rescue and fire department teams controlled the blaze at the Mariyammal Firecracker Factory and transported the injured to Sivakasi Government Hospital for treatment
• Police have registered a case and forensic experts are examining debris to determine whether volatile chemical mishandling or safety protocol breaches triggered the explosion
• Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed deep grief over the incident and announced ex gratia payments of Rs 4 lakh for each deceased and tiered assistance for the injured from the public relief fund
• The July 21 explosion adds to a nationwide wave of deadly fireworks factory blasts this year, including a July 1 Sivakasi district incident that killed eight workers
• Sivakasi, known as India’s firecracker capital, continues to face regulatory enforcement gaps and makeshift manufacturing units prone to fatal accidents