New Delhi, Sep 6 (ANI): Both Houses of the Parliament on Thursday condoled the death of those killed in yesterday's fire accident in Mudalipetti, near Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu
Earlier, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed deep shock over the Sivakasi firecracker tragedy and condoled the deaths.
In his message, Dr. Singh said that he stands with the people of Tamil Nadu in this hour of grief and has conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved families.
The Prime Minister also announced an ex-gratia payment of two lakh rupees to the next of kin of each of the deceased and 50,000 rupees to those seriously injured in the fire.
More than 38 people were killed and nearly 70 injured on Wednesday when an explosion tore through a fireworks factory in Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, triggering a major fire.
Police and fire officials said the toll may rise as over 200 persons are feared trapped in the fireworks factory, as firefighters struggled to enter the building of Omshakti fireworks factory.
Meanwhile, five persons were arrested in connection with the devastating fire.
The arrested were four persons who had taken the Omshakthi fireworks factory complex, where the fire broke out, on lease and its foreman, police said on Thursday. (ANI)
