Fifty four persons were feared killed on Wednesday in a fire accident in a cracker factory in Muthalaipatti near Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu. Over 50 persons have been injured in the incident.

Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh announced an ex-gratia payment of two lakh rupees to the next of kin of each of the deceased and 50 thousand rupees to those seriously injured in the Sivakasi fireworks tragedy.

Expressing deep shock over the incident, Dr. Singh conveyed his heart-felt condolences to the members of the bereaved families.

Special wards have been set up at various hospitals in Madurai, Virudhunagar, Satur, Arupukkottai and Sivakasi to treat the injured in the incident.

Five State Ministers visited the accident site and injured in various hospitals.

Chief Minister of the State, Ms. Jayalalitha has announced an ex-gratia amount of two lakh rupees for each of the victim.

AIR Correspondent who visited the accident site reports, the Muthalaipetti village has been filled with smoke rising to a few 100 metres. Smell of aluminium and burnt crackers fill the air.

There was no sight of any human habitation as all of them have been evacuated in a radius of 3 Km.

Official figures say that 36 persons have been killed in the fire cracker accident.

But the death toll is bound to rise as many of the injured admitted in Virudunagar, Sattur, Sivakasi and Madurai Government hospitals are in very serious condition.

More than 300 persons were working in Om Shakti Fire cracker factory when the accident occurred.

Special crackers were being made for Diwali festival. It seems rules were violated and no system was there to safeguard the lives of rural people who were dependent on this work for their livelihood. Much more awareness is needed to avert such accidents in the future.