Two-member team visits Sivakasi to study safety measures in firecracker units

The two-member committee appointed by the government to inquire into the reasons for the fire accident at Vetlapalem village in Kakinada district visited Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu on Monday.

The fire accident occurred at Surya Sri Fire Works located in Samalkot mandal of Kakinada district on February 28. As many as 27 people died and a few workers were injured in the incident.

EAGLE Inspector General of Police Ake Ravi Krishna and Fire Services in charge Director General P. Venkata Ramana, who are members of the committee, visited a few firecracker manufacturing units in Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district.

Many of the firecracker manufacturing units are following the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation guidelines and are adopting robust safety mechanisms, Mr. Ravi Krishna said.

The team interacted with officials from the Revenue, Fire, Labour, Inspector of Factories and Police departments, besides safety officers and workers in some units, and observed the safety precautions being implemented.

The committee members said a detailed report on the reasons for the Vetlapalem fire accident would be submitted shortly.