By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday expressed deep shock over the Sivakasi firecracker tragedy in Tamil Nadu and condoled the deaths in the accident.
“The prime minister has expressed deep shock over the Sivakasi fireworks tragedy in which many lives were lost in Tamil Nadu this (Wednesday) morning,” said a release from prime minister’s office.
Manmohan Singh said he stood with the people of Tamil Nadu in the hour of grief and conveyed his “heartfelt condolences” to the members of the bereaved families.
The prime minister also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs.two lakh to the next of kin of each of the deceased and Rs.50,000 to those seriously injured in the fire.
At least 30 people were killed and more than 50 injured Wednesday when an explosion tore through a fireworks factory in Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, triggering a major fire.