CUDDALORE: A 39-year-old woman worker lost her life in a devastating explosion at a country-made firecracker chemical storage shed in Periyakumatti village, near Chidambaram, on Sunday. The tragic blast occurred while she was handling explosive materials alone, police said.

The unit, run by V Subramanian (55) of B Mutlur’s Nagavalliyamman Koil Street, operates under the name Venkateswara Fireworks. It manufactures and distributes locally made and decorative fireworks to various districts and typically employs over ten workers.

Due to the Sunday holiday, only five employees were present at the site. Among them was M Latha, a resident of Sammandham Angalammal Koil Street, who had entered the storage shed to collect chemical materials. The other workers were on a tea break near the production shed when the blast occurred.

“There was a sudden loud explosion, and the entire storage shed was obliterated,” said a police officer. Latha died instantly, with her body torn apart and found scattered around the site.

Personnel from Parangipettai Police Station arrived at the scene quickly. Latha’s remains were sent for post-mortem to the Government Villupuram Medical College Hospital in Mundiampakkam.

Preliminary findings suggest that the explosion may have been triggered when a bag of explosive powder slipped from Latha’s hands while she was retrieving materials from a pipe. Police have launched a full investigation into the incident.

Authorities noted that if the blast had occurred during regular work hours, the death toll could have been far worse.