Page 2 - Firecrackers

12 women among 13 dead in blasts at 2 Tamil Nadu firecracker units

At least 14 persons were killed and two injured in two separate fire accidents at fireworks units in Rangapalayam and Kichanayakanpatti village in the district on Tuesday, police said. Police, fire and rescue service personnel, and the public put up joint efforts in extinguishing the flames and trying to rescue the victims. "Seven charred bodies were recovered at the fireworks unit in Rangapalayam, where the blast occurred and their identities are yet to be established," a senior police official told PTI. The police suspect that they could be workers, he said. Three persons who were rescued from the unit succumbed to their injuries. The toll in this major fire accident rose to 13, which included 12 women workers, the police official said. The accident took place when the workers tested the crackers in the afternoon and a spark from them landed on the crackers being packed in the adjoining area, thus triggering a blast, he said. Another such incident at a fireworks unit at ...

Ensure safety measures in firecracker factories: Palaniswami urges TN govt

The death toll in the explosion at a cracker manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu's Ariyalur district has increased to 11, officials said on Tuesday

Major fire breaks out at cracker godown-cum-shop in Bengaluru, 12 dead

Twelve people were charred to death after a major fire broke out at a firecracker godown-cum-shop in Attibele in Anekal taluk here on Saturday, police said. Four persons, including the shop owner, sustained burn injuries and were given treatment. However, one of them who received serious burn injuries has been referred to another hospital, they said. Most of them who died were employees working in the firecracker godown-cum-shop, police said, adding efforts are being made to ascertain the identity of the deceased. The incident occurred around 3.30 pm while unloading firecracker cartons from a transport vehicle, police said, adding fire-fighters are at the spot conducting a search operation to ascertain if there are more bodies. "Some employees were working inside the shop when the fire broke out. We have recovered 13 charred bodies from the spot so far. All these bodies have been shifted to hospital. Search operations are still underway to ascertain if there are more bodies inside

Four people die after explosion in firecracker factory in Tamil Nadu

The police could not identify the bodies as parts of the bodies were scattered over a distance of about 100 meters at various places

Ban on firecrackers in Gurugram from Nov, green crackers allowed on Diwali

The Gurugram district administration has issued orders to ban the storage, sale and use of firecrackers in view of pollution. In the orders issued by District Magistrate-cum-DC Nishant Kumar Yadav, e-commerce companies such as Amazon and Flipkart have also been prohibited from accepting any online order for firecrackers. The orders will come into force in Gurugram district from November 1, 2023 and will remain effective till January 31, 2024. "According to the instructions of the Supreme Court, only green firecrackers which cause less pollution can be sold through licensed traders in Gurugram district. The production, sale and use of other firecrackers and sticks has been completely banned as they cause excessive air and noise pollution and also cause solid waste related problems. "The green firecrackers will be allowed to be burst only from 8 pm to 10 pm on the festival of Diwali and from 11.55 pm to 12.30 am on the occasion of Christmas and New Year," the order read. The orders

Supreme Court says no to barium-made firecrackers, upholds Delhi govt's ban

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had asked Delhi police not to issue temporary licences for the sale of firecrackers in the capital city

Don't issue licences for sale, storage of firecrackers: SC to Delhi police

The Supreme Court Thursday asked Delhi police not to issue temporary licences for sale and storage of any kind of firecrackers, saying when the city government has banned all firecrackers no distinction can be made on the basis of whether it is green or not. A bench of Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh reserved its verdict on a plea seeking ban on firecrackers containing barium to curb pollution levels including in the Delhi-NCR region. "We have to see what level of work has been done over the years and whether any additional directions are required to be issued. We see that most of the aspects have been taken care of by various orders passed by this court from time to time," the bench observed as it reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas. "When there is a ban imposed by the government it means complete ban. Ban is for firecrackers. We don't understand the distinction between green or blackjust ensure that no temporary licences are given by the Delhi police. Giving licences of a

SC refuses to interfere with Delhi govt's blanket ban on firecrackers

The Supreme Court Wednesday refused to interfere with the Delhi government's order putting a comprehensive ban on manufacture, storage, sale and bursting of firecrackers in the capital city. BJP Lok Sabha MP Manoj Tiwari told a bench of Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh that a complete ban has been imposed on firecrackers despite the court allowing bursting of green firecrackers. "No, we are not going to interfere. Where the government has banned firecrackers, it means complete ban. People's health is important. If you want to burst firecrackers, go to states where there is no ban," the bench told the counsel for Tiwari. The counsel said his client being an MP was responsible towards his constituents and the court has itself allowed bursting of green firecrackers. "You should make the people understand that they should not burst firecrackers. Even you should not burst firecrackers during victory processions after elections. There are other ways of celebrating the victory," the be

Blast in Bengal firecracker factory claims 8 lives, BJP demands NIA probe

At least eight people were killed and scores injured in a blast at an illegal firecrackers factory in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Sunday morning, police said. The explosion took place when people were working at the factory in Nilgunj's Moshpole within Duttapukur police station limits, around 30km north of Kolkata, they said. The blast's impact was so intense that over 50 houses in the neighbourhood were partially damaged and body parts of people were found on terraces of several buildings, a senior police officer said, adding they suspect several people were still stuck under the rubble. Police said the owner's son, who was present in the unit, was also killed in the blast. "The matter is under investigation. Guilty will be punished. We are conducting rescue operations now," the officer told PTI. Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose, who reached Duttapukur from Kolkata airport after returning to the city after a three-day trip to North Bengal, said he would evaluate the ...

PM Modi announces ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for victims' kin in TN blast

Krishnagiri Superintendant of Police Saroj Kumar Thakore said that blast took place inside the firecracker factory owned by one Ravi in the Pazhayapettai area

Mamata apologises for blast in illegal firecracker factory at Bengal's Egra

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday apologised to the people of Egra area in Purba Medinipur district of the state for a blast at an illegal firecracker factory here, in which 12 people were killed and many injured. The Trinamool Congress supremo, who reached Khadikul village in this area, 11 days after the blast, also said the incident could have been averted if the state had received proper intelligence inputs. "I will bow my head down to you and apologise for the incident (blast at the illegal fire factory on May 16)... Had intelligence worked properly then this blast could have been averted," Banerjee said after distributing compensation cheques to relatives of those killed and injured in the blast. She also handed over appointment letters for jobs as home guards to one member each from the family of those killed in the May 16 blast. Stating that two members from the family which owned the illegal factory, have been arrested, Banerjee urged the villagers to k

Death toll in West Bengal firecracker factory explosion rises to 11

The toll in a blast at an illegal firecracker factory in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district rose to 11 as one more person, who was seriously injured in the explosion, succumbed to his injuries, a senior official said on Saturday. Rabindranath Maity, who had 80 per cent burn injuries, was undergoing treatment at the state-run SSKM Hospital here, died on Friday, he said. "He had third-degree burn injuries. His condition deteriorated constantly since he was brought here and he died last evening," the official said. Another injured in the explosion, Pinki Maity, is undergoing treatment at the hospital and his condition is also "very critical", he said. Prime accused and owner of the illegal firecracker manufacturing unit Kalipada alias Bhanu Bagh had succumbed to his injuries at a private nursing home in Odisha's Cuttack, where he had fled soon after the blast on May 16. The West Bengal CID is conducting a probe into the explosion in Egra area. Meanwhile, the National Human Right

NHRC issues notice to Bengal govt over 9 deaths in firecracker factory

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday issued a notice to the West Bengal government seeking a detailed report on the explosion in an illegal firecracker factory that left nine people dead and several others injured, an official said. The blast took place at Egra in Purba Medinipur district on May 16. There seems to be a violation of the human rights of the victims of the blast due to negligence on the part of the administration, the NHRC official told PTI. The notice was sent to West Bengal Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi and Director General of Police Manoj Malviya seeking a detailed report in the matter within four weeks, he said. We would like to know about the action taken against the delinquent officers, responsible for the tragedy and how much compensation has been paid to the family members of those killed and injured," the official said.

Poverty brought victims of Bengal blast to illegal firecracker factory

The nine workers killed in the illegal firecracker factory explosion in West Bengal's East Midnapore district were forced to take up the job owing to acute poverty and lack of alternative income

CID, forensic team start probe of firecracker factory explosion in WB

Teams from the state CID and forensic department started their investigation into the explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in Egra area of West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district on Wednesday, a senior officer said. Forensic experts started collecting samples from the now collapsed house at Khadikul village which housed the illegal firecracker unit and its surroundings, he said. The CID officers will speak to witnesses as well as with family members of those killed in the blast, the officer said. A huge posse of local police have been deployed in the village near the Odisha border. The district police have lodged an FIR in connection with the explosion that took place on Tuesday in which nine people were killed and several others injured. "Our officers are at the spot and they have started their investigation. Forensic experts are also there. The samples collected from the spot will be sent for examination to identify the materials used at the factory to prepare firecrackers

No plan to ban firecrackers: Environment minister Choubey tells Lok Sabha

Says SC had only come down on conventional fireworks, but had allowed green crackers that release fewer emissions

Crackers responsible for 37 of 85 fire incidents in 3 days in Mumbai

As many as 85 fire incidents were reported in Mumbai during the first three days of Diwali celebrations, of which 37, or nearly 44 per cent, were caused by crackers, said the Fire Brigade on Tuesday. However, no casualties were reported in these incidents. According to the Fire Brigade, as many as 37 blazes were triggered due to bursting of firecrackers among the 85 such incidents reported in the city between October 22 and October 24. A top Fire Brigade official told PTI that of the 85 fire calls received in the last three days, the maximum 41 were on October 24 (the main day of Diwali festival), followed by 27 on October 23 and 17 on October 22. Elaborating further, he said crackers were responsible for 28 incidents of fire on October 24, followed by seven on October 23 and two on October 22. Before the start of Diwali, the Mumbai civic body had appealed to citizens to take precautions while celebrating the festival and contact the Fire Brigade's control room on 101 and its .

Sivakasi's Rs 6,000-cr fireworks industry aims for international market

The 6000 crore fireworks industry of Sivakasi, which has turned mainly into green crackers, is now planning to tap the international firecracker industry hitherto dominated by Chinese players

Real-time monitoring of sound, air pollution on Diwali underway in Bengal

West Bengal Environment Minister Manas Bhuniya Monday said the new central control room at Paribesh Bhavan here is monitoring sound and air pollution in real time on Diwali and Kali Puja. Bhuniya, who inspected the control room at the West Bengal Pollution Control Board headquarters, told reporters that experts from IIT-Delhi are examining the data at regular intervals, particularly during evening, and passing on the information to departments concerned. "If there is any data about violation of sound limits prescribed by the WBPCB, we will mark the hotspots and officers of the respective police stations will be alerted, and the offenders will be tracked," he said. Over 100 mini control rooms at the district level across North and South Bengal are functioning since the evening and feeding data to the central control room every minute, an Environment Department official said. WBPCB chairman Kalyan Rudra said so far, the situation has not turned alarming, which can be attributed to th

Delhi set for smoggy Diwali as firework sales thrive after two yrs of Covid

Ban, strict fines fail to deter buyers, Air Quality Index at 247, hits 'poor' category on Sunday, a day ahead of Diwali