Tourism Minister R. Rajendran handing over solatium to the family members of cracker explosion victims at Salem Government Hospital on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The bodies of four victims who died after firecrackers carried on a moped exploded on Friday evening were cremated after post-mortem examinations.

Tourism Minister R. Rajendran handed over the solatium announced by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to the victims’ families on Saturday.

Two youths carrying firecrackers on their moped to celebrate the Draupadi Amman temple festival at Kanjanaickenpatti stopped at Poosaripatti Bus Stop and began bursting them at around 9 p.m. on Friday, when a a spark from one of the firecrackers ignited a stockpile on the moped, triggering an explosion.

In the impact, two minors and two youth sustained injuries; three died on the spot, and one was admitted to Omalur Government Hospital and later referred to Salem Government Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries around 11.30 p.m. on Friday.

Deevattipatti Police identified the deceased as S. Tamilselvan (11) and S. Karthi (11), residents of Guruvaliyur, and Selvaraj (29) and T. Logesh (20), residents of Kottamedu. Two passers-by, Naveen Prabhu (32) and Dinesh (28), residents of Kattukottai who sustained injuries, were admitted to Salem Government Hospital.

The Salem District Collector R. Brindha Devi, Salem District Superintendent of Police (SP) Gautam Goyal and officials inspected the scene at midnight. Expressing his condolences, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin announced ₹3 lakh solatium for each bereaved family from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. 

On Saturday morning, Tourism Minister R. Rajendran visited the hospital, paid his respects to the victims and handed over the solatium to the family members. Mr. Rajendran also provided ₹2 lakh to each family on behalf of the DMK. After postmortem, the bodies were handed over to the relatives and cremated at Kanjanaickenpatti on Saturday afternoon.

The Minister also inspected the site of the explosion, where villagers demanded action against those responsible. He then instructed police to conduct a thorough inquiry.

Deevattipatti Police have registered cases under Sections 288, 125(a), and 106(1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and under Sections 1(b) and 9(b) of the Explosives Act and are investigating.