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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Fireworks unit blast: Families protest demanding higher compensation
Virudhunagar: Tension prevailed at the Virudhunagar Govt Medical College Hospital on Wednesday as families of victims killed in the fireworks factory blast near Sattur held a protest, refusing to receive the bodies until enhanced compensation was assured. Eight workers were killed in the explosion at a private unit in Chinnakamanpatti owned by a Sivakasi-based operator. While postmortem was completed for all victims, families of five workers — Ramajeyam, Naga Pandi, Lakshmi, Chellapandi, and Punniyamurthi — sat on the road outside the hospital demanding 10 lakh compensation each from the state. After revenue and police officials intervened, the body of Punniyamurthi was received, but others continued their protest and later were dispersed by the police. The incident triggered sharp political responses. CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam urged the state govt to immediately disburse 20 lakh to the families, in line with the National Green Tribunal (NGT)'s earlier directive for blast victims, and an additional 10 lakh from the factory management. "The 4 lakh announced by the state is grossly inadequate," he said, adding that recurring mishaps expose a lax attitude towards enforcing safety norms. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 파고다어학원 여름 즉시혜택 파고다어학원 더 알아보기 Undo AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran also condemned the district SP D Kannan's threatening tone in a video that surfaced, showing him warning protesters to "stay quiet or face consequences." Calling it "high-handedness," Dhinakaran demanded that the govt respect democratic protests and ensure just compensation. Responding to criticism over the police's handling of the protest, the Virudhunagar district police in a statement clarified that no force was used against the victims' families and that their intervention was aimed at preventing disruption to hospital services and road access for ambulances. The release added that protesters repeatedly attempted to block the main road outside the hospital, affecting patient care and public movement. Police said they only issued firm warnings to disperse the crowd and facilitated the handing over of bodies to the kin. Claims of high-handedness were dismissed as exaggerated and not reflective of actual events.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Tension at Virudhunagar hospital as blast victims' kin demand higher compensation
Virudhunagar: Tension gripped the Virudhunagar Government Medical College Hospital on Wednesday as families of workers killed in a fireworks factory blast near Sattur staged a protest, refusing to receive the bodies until enhanced compensation was assured. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Eight workers died in the explosion at a private unit in Chinnakamanpatti, operated by a Sivakasi-based owner. Though postmortem was completed, families of five victims — Ramajeyam, Naga Pandi, Lakshmi, Chellapandi, and Punniyamurthi — demanded ₹10 lakh compensation from the state. While the body of Punniyamurthi was received following official intervention, others continued their protest before being dispersed by police. Chief minister M K Stalin had earlier announced 4 lakh as compensation for each victim. The incident sparked political backlash. CPM state secretary P Shanmugam called the state's relief "grossly inadequate" and demanded 20 lakh per victim, as per a previous National Green Tribunal directive, along with 10 lakh from the factory management. "These recurring mishaps highlight poor enforcement of safety norms," he said. AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran condemned the district SP D Kannan's "threatening tone" in a viral video where he is seen warning protesters. Calling it "high-handedness," Dhinakaran urged the government to uphold democratic rights and ensure fair compensation. Responding to the criticism, Virudhunagar district police denied any use of force, stating that warnings were issued only to prevent disruption to hospital services and ensure road access for ambulances. In a press release, police said the protesters repeatedly tried to block the main road, affecting patient care, and that allegations were "exaggerated and inaccurate."
