Compensation delay leaves fireworks factory blast victims in the lurch in T.N.

Firecracker victims await promised compensation from government and company, facing financial struggles and unfulfilled promises.

Muthukutti, a resident of Nadusurangkutti in Virudhunagar district, was among the workers who survived the deadly blast at Sree Mariyammal Fireworks factory at Achankulam village, which claimed 27 lives four years ago on February 12, 2021. But an injury so dire has left him unemployed, and he has yet to receive the monetary relief promised by the State government.

Like Muthukutti, Jayarani, whose husband Michael Raj was killed in the blast, is also awaiting compensation. “The government gave us ₹1 lakh, which was spent on his treatment at a private hospital. He was under treatment for 25 days, after which he was referred to the Madurai government hospital. But I got him admitted to the hospital in Sivakasi as I couldn’t afford the cost of travel,” she said. Her husband was 35 when he subsequently died without responding to treatment.

Jayarani says their children are in classes 9 and 7 now. “We were told that we would be paid a compensation of ₹20 lakh. But nothing has materialised. The fireworkscompany had issued a cheque for ₹5 lakh but it bounced within a week of its issuance,” she alleges.

P. Selvanatham’s mother died in a hospital after sustaining injuries in the blast. “The accident occurred during lunchtime that day,” he recalled. “Those who died on the spot got a compensation of ₹3 lakh immediately, but those who were injured were paid only ₹1 lakh, and after their death, the Collector’s office gave another ₹1 lakh. For the post-mortem, we were given ₹30,000,” said Selvanatham, whose father died of COVID-19 in the same period.

“We petitioned the district collector last month, but there has been no relief,” he said, alleging that he too had received a cheque from the company but it had bounced.

Muthukutti, the youngest of four siblings, was 19 when the accident occurred. His left leg had to be amputated at the thigh and he is now at home without a job. He has studied up to class 1.

“I was told that I would receive a compensation of ₹15 lakh but that is yet to come,” he said, adding that the company’s cheque bounced in his case too.