Woman killed, four injured in illegal firecracker fuse unit blast

Virudhunagar: A 50-year-old woman guest worker was charred to death, and four others sustained severe burn injuries in an explosion at an illegal firecracker fuse unit near Rajapalayam in Virudhunagar district on Wednesday evening.The deceased was identified as Savitri Ghosh, of Assam. The injured were identified as Kodeeswaran, 45, of Krishnapuram, who suffered 80% burns, and his son Azhagu Nambi, 19, with 40% burns; and two guest workers, Sanjeev, 30, and Miras, 20, of Assam. All have been admitted to a government hospital.Police said that the shed, originally used for cattle rearing, had been leased by Ajith of Sivakasi, who ran an illegal unit producing firecracker fuses used in firecrackers at Mancholai Colony near Dhalavaipuram.Preliminary inquiry revealed that the accident reportedly occurred when sparks from welding work in another section of the shed ignited the chemical, causing a sudden fire that engulfed the shed, resulting in the immediate death of Savitri.Fire and rescue personnel rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control. Police sent the body of the deceased for autopsy examination and the injured to Rajapalayam government hospital for treatment.Dhalavaipuram police have registered a case and launched a search for Ajith, who is absconding.