Haripad accident was bound to happen

ALAPPUZHA: The ugly accident that claimed three lives in an explosion at an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit near Haripad on Sunday was one waiting to happen.

And if a May 2010 report from the Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives on the State-wide status of such units is any indication, the forthcoming festival season may witness several more such mishaps.

The unit at Haripad was the venue for a similar accident six months back, claiming one life, and another accident 10 years back, claiming two lives.

Following the second accident, a social worker from Thrissur, V.K. Venkitachalam, had lodged a complaint with the Chief Ministers Public Grievance Redressal Cell, pointing out that there were several such illegal units in other parts of the State, particularly Thrissur.