Another worker succumbs to injuries in Vellore; owner of cracker unit arrested

The firecracker manufacturing unit was razed to the ground after the blast. | Photo credit: VENKATACHALAPATHY_C

A 35-year-old owner of a firecracker manufacturing unit was arrested by the Anaicut police in Vellore after an explosion at the unit killed two workers.

The arrested person has been identified as Hari Prasad, who runs a cracker unit in Chinna Anaicut village, which comes under Anaicut Panchayat Union in the district. He was nabbed by a special team from his hideout in Jawadhu Hills. A case was registered and he was lodged in Vellore Central Jail.

On Wednesday, R. Gayathri (41), a laborer, was killed on the spot after an explosion occurred in a firecracker unit. Another worker, U. Sangeetha (45), suffered 96 per cent burns in the incident. Both the workers belong to Kottaiyur village near the unit.

Workers at the unit were packing firecrackers when the explosion occurred. The building was razed to the ground.

The injured worker Sangeetha was admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Vellore where she succumbed to her burns on Friday. PS Collector Leela Alex handed over ₹400,000 ex-gratia from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund to the family members of the deceased workers. On the order of Mrs. Alex, the firecracker manufacturing unit was canceled and the unit was sealed by the officials of the Revenue Office.

Published – 24 Oct 2026 23:53 IST