Magisterial probe ordered into Sivakasi fire

Tags: magisterial probe, Sivakasi fire
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Thursday ordered a magisterial probe into the devastating fire at a cracker manufacturing unit in Sivakasi, which claimed 39 lives and injured several others. Jayalalithaa, who chaired a meeting of senior ministers to chalk out measures to prevent such mishaps in future, said the District Revenue Officer would probe the cause of the incident and functioning of the Om Shakti Fireworks factory, whose registration was cancelled a day before the incident. A sum of Rs 4.5 crore has been earmarked for enhancing the facilities at burns ward in Sivakasi Government hospital and bring it under the Madurai Medical College Hospital. She also directed the Virudhunagar District Collector to survey the fireworks' units in the district to avoid recurrence of such accidents. Jayalalithaa yesterday announced a cash relief of Rs two lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the incident.

 Magisterial probe ordered into Sivakasi fire

Tags: magisterial probe, Sivakasi fire
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Thursday ordered a magisterial probe into the devastating fire at a cracker manufacturing unit in Sivakasi, which claimed 39 lives and injured several others. Jayalalithaa, who chaired a meeting of senior ministers to chalk out measures to prevent such mishaps in future, said the District Revenue Officer would probe the cause of the incident and functioning of the Om Shakti Fireworks factory, whose registration was cancelled a day before the incident. A sum of Rs 4.5 crore has been earmarked for enhancing the facilities at burns ward in Sivakasi Government hospital and bring it under the Madurai Medical College Hospital. She also directed the Virudhunagar District Collector to survey the fireworks' units in the district to avoid recurrence of such accidents. Jayalalithaa yesterday announced a cash relief of Rs two lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the incident.

  Sivakasi fire: 12 arrested, hunt on for owner

ags: Sivakasi, 12 arrested
CHENNAI: At least 12 people were arrested on Thursday, a day after a fire at Sivakasi firecracker unit charred 36 people to death. The owner of the firm, Om Shakti factory, is still at large, police said. Police teams have been sent to nab the owner, known as Murugesan, who has been absconding since Wednesday and police officials were confident that he would be nabbed soon. Paul Pandi, who had taken the factory on lease and was running it, was among the 12 people arrested, said Virudanagar SP Najmal Huda. He reiterated that the factory was being run illegally after its license was suspended for several violations, including those of safety norms. Huda added that the factory not only employed more people than it should have but also expanded its capacities to meet Diwali rush. The suspension orders were given two months ago, sources in the offices of controller of explosives said. But the revenue department was not informed and the factory continued to function due to the miscommunication, a revenue department official said. The licenses to the factory were valid for another two years. Though the exact reason for the accident would be known only after a thorough investigation, early leads point to the fact that wrong mixing of chemicals by untrained persons could have led to the initial sparks that resulted in the fire and explosions, a police inspector on the spot said. CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury who visited the spot demanded a high level inquiry into the incident and also to ascertain why accidents continued to occur in this industry. He also demanded adequate compensation to the victims.

  Sivakasi fire: 12 arrested, hunt on for owner

ags: Sivakasi, 12 arrested
CHENNAI: At least 12 people were arrested on Thursday, a day after a fire at Sivakasi firecracker unit charred 36 people to death. The owner of the firm, Om Shakti factory, is still at large, police said. Police teams have been sent to nab the owner, known as Murugesan, who has been absconding since Wednesday and police officials were confident that he would be nabbed soon. Paul Pandi, who had taken the factory on lease and was running it, was among the 12 people arrested, said Virudanagar SP Najmal Huda. He reiterated that the factory was being run illegally after its license was suspended for several violations, including those of safety norms. Huda added that the factory not only employed more people than it should have but also expanded its capacities to meet Diwali rush. The suspension orders were given two months ago, sources in the offices of controller of explosives said. But the revenue department was not informed and the factory continued to function due to the miscommunication, a revenue department official said. The licenses to the factory were valid for another two years. Though the exact reason for the accident would be known only after a thorough investigation, early leads point to the fact that wrong mixing of chemicals by untrained persons could have led to the initial sparks that resulted in the fire and explosions, a police inspector on the spot said. CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury who visited the spot demanded a high level inquiry into the incident and also to ascertain why accidents continued to occur in this industry. He also demanded adequate compensation to the victims.

CCTV cameras to be installed inside trains

Thrissur: CCTV cameras would be installed in selected trains to curb attacks against women. It will be installed on a trial basis in one or two trains first and the equipment needed for the same are ready. The help of state government has been sought for implementing this. It will be installed once railways get sponsors. Special squads will be appointed to ensure hygiene foods in trains. The employees who distribute foods will be given charge of collecting used plates and cups to avoid littering platforms.

CCTV cameras to be installed inside trains

Thrissur: CCTV cameras would be installed in selected trains to curb attacks against women. It will be installed on a trial basis in one or two trains first and the equipment needed for the same are ready. The help of state government has been sought for implementing this. It will be installed once railways get sponsors. Special squads will be appointed to ensure hygiene foods in trains. The employees who distribute foods will be given charge of collecting used plates and cups to avoid littering platforms.

CCTV cameras to be installed inside trains

Thrissur: CCTV cameras would be installed in selected trains to curb attacks against women. It will be installed on a trial basis in one or two trains first and the equipment needed for the same are ready. The help of state government has been sought for implementing this. It will be installed once railways get sponsors. Special squads will be appointed to ensure hygiene foods in trains. The employees who distribute foods will be given charge of collecting used plates and cups to avoid littering platforms.

25 killed in ammunition depot blast in western Turkey: army
Twenty-five soldiers were killed and four were lightly wounded in an explosion at a military ammunition storage in western Turkey, the army announced on Thursday.

The explosion occurred around 1815 GMT late on Wednesday at a military ammunition depot where hand grenades were  stored and its cause was not yet known, said the chief of staff in a statement posted on its website. The blast caused a fire in the depot which officials said was contained early Thursday. Government officials dismissed any act of terrorism or sabotage but said it was most probably an accident. "This is most probably an accident," environment and forestry minister Veysel Eroglu said in televised remarks. "This is certainly not an act of terrorism." Eroglu also warned citizens not to approach the area because hand grenades were dispersed around

25 killed in ammunition depot blast in western Turkey: army
Twenty-five soldiers were killed and four were lightly wounded in an explosion at a military ammunition storage in western Turkey, the army announced on Thursday.

The explosion occurred around 1815 GMT late on Wednesday at a military ammunition depot where hand grenades were  stored and its cause was not yet known, said the chief of staff in a statement posted on its website. The blast caused a fire in the depot which officials said was contained early Thursday. Government officials dismissed any act of terrorism or sabotage but said it was most probably an accident. "This is most probably an accident," environment and forestry minister Veysel Eroglu said in televised remarks. "This is certainly not an act of terrorism." Eroglu also warned citizens not to approach the area because hand grenades were dispersed around

Migrant boat sinks off Turkish coast, 58 dead

- Reuters

ANKARA (Reuters) - At least 58 people died and many were missing after a boat carrying illegal migrants sank off Turkey's western Aegean coast on Thursday morning, Turkish media reported. Speaking live on state television TRT, Tahsin Kurtbeyoglu, the governor of Menderes, a coastal district in Izmir province, confirmed the sinking. TRT reported that the boat had sunk around dawn after travelling just 50 metres from the Turkish coast. Television footage showed small boats searching for survivors close to the shore. State-run Anatolia news agency, citing Kurtbeyoglu, said on its website that most of those on the boat were Palestinian nationals and that the destination of the boat was not known. So far 46 people have been rescued alive, Anatolia reported, including the boat's captain and his assistant who have both been arrested. Those rescued were in good health, it said. Turkey's location as a bridge from Asia to Europe, as well as its wealth compared with neighbouring states, has long made it both a destination and a transit point for migrants from as far afield as sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. (Writing by Jonathon Burch; Editing by Tim Pearce; Editing by Nick Tattersall and Kevin Liffey)