Building collapses in blast at high explosives manufacturing unit near Coimbatore

Coimbatore: A building collapsed after an explosion at a high explosives manufacturing unit in Puliyamarathupalayam village near Varapatti in Coimbatore district on Monday afternoon. No casualties were reported.

All the employees of Ganesh Explosives Private Limited were out of the building while the gunpowder processing was being carried out in a machine. The machine was damaged in the blast that happened around 12.10pm.

A minor fire spread in the area after the blast. Fire and rescue services personnel from Sulur rushed to the spot and put out the blaze. On being informed, the Sulthanpet police also rushed to the spot.

The unit has been functioning since December 1993. It manufactures high explosives as well as black gunpowder, safety fuse, visco fuse, quick match, ignitor cord, pyrotechnical devices, combustible components and sharp-edged non-firearms.

The licensed unit is owned by Uttarakhand-based Rajesh Jain, 63. The licence is in the in the name of Chandragupthan, 68.

The firm employs around 100 people, including 20 women.

Further investigations were on.