Wed Feb 05 13:21:39 UTC 2025: ## Victims of 2021 Fireworks Factory Blast Still Await Full Compensation Four Years Later

**Chennai, February 5, 2025** – Four years after a devastating fireworks factory explosion in Virudhunagar district claimed 27 lives and injured dozens, survivors and families of the deceased are still fighting for promised compensation. The February 12, 2021, blast at the Sree Mariyammal Fireworks unit left many workers with life-altering injuries and a desperate struggle for financial relief.

Muthukutti, a survivor who lost his leg, and Jayarani, whose husband died in the explosion, are among those yet to receive the full compensation mandated by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The NGT ordered ₹20 lakh for families of the deceased and varying amounts for the injured, depending on the severity of their burns. However, the promised payments from the factory owner have largely not materialized, with many victims reporting bounced checks.

Selvanatham, who lost his mother in the aftermath of the blast, highlights the disparity in initial compensation, with those who died immediately receiving ₹3 lakh, while injured survivors received only ₹1 lakh initially. He, like many others, alleges that cheques issued by the company have bounced.

The state government claims it has already disbursed its share of the compensation (₹3 lakh per victim, plus ₹2 lakh from the central government), maintaining that the remaining amount is the responsibility of the factory owner. The government is pursuing this through the Revenue Recovery Act.

Despite an appeal to the NGT on February 3, 2025, regarding the compensation delays, the victims’ plea was dismissed. They have been advised to approach the Supreme Court. The situation underscores a broader problem; S. Karuppiah of the Dalit Liberation Movement points to 342 deaths in state firecracker unit blasts since 2022, highlighting a systemic issue of worker safety and compensation. He notes the irony of the state offering greater compensation for victims of a hooch tragedy than for those who lost their lives or livelihoods in workplace accidents.

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