At least five people have been reportedly killed after a fire broke out at a firecracker shop in Sankarapuram town of Kallakurichi district in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday. As per police, five people who sustained injuries were taken to Kallakurichi government hospital.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has announced an ex gratia of 5 lakhs each for the families of those who died in the cracker shop fire in Kallakurichi and Rs 1 lakh for the injured who are being treated in the emergency wards
"Five people killed in fire at a firecracker shop in Sankarapuram town of Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu. Firefighting operation is underway," said District Collector PN Sridhar to ANI.
The sudden blast has caused panic in the town. Fire tenders from Sankarapuram and Kallakurichi were quick to reach the spot and begin the rescue work. They rushed to the spot to take down the flames.
Meanwhile, Stalin, in a tweet, expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.
"I was deeply saddened to learn that five people were killed in a fire at a firecracker shop in Sankarapuram, Kallakurichi district. Rs 5 lakh each for the victims; Rs 1 lakh each for those in intensive care #CMRF I have ordered to deliver from the fund," wrote CM MK Stalin in Tamil.