The death toll in the blast that took place at Vanaja Fireworks Unit at Kattanarpatti here rose to 25, with two more workers succumbing to burns early on Monday.
R. Petchiammal, 51, and V. Panchavarnam, 56, of Tiruthagal, who suffered over 80% burns in the explosion that occurred at Vanaja Fireworks unit on Sunday, died at the Virudhunagar Government Medical College hospital (VGMCH) on Monday. Six others, including a 12-year-old boy, are undergoing treatment. Meanwhile, a woman police constable, Kavitha, had suffered a fracture on her left hand in the second blast that was reported around 7.20 p.m., even as search and rescue operation was under way.
A total of 20 persons, including seven police personnel and four Fire and Rescue Services personnel, who were injured in the second blast, are also undergoing treatment. Assistant District Fire Officer T. Muthupandi was among the injured.
The identity of 22 workers have been established, after marathon efforts, as most of the bodies were charred beyond recognition or mutilated. .A team of doctors, along with police personnel, identified the bodies with the help of the relatives of the 23 persons who were killed on the spot, to identify the bodies. The post-mortem, which began late on Sunday, was carried out by forensic experts from the VGMCH, Government Rajaji hospital in Madurai, and Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital.
