Explosives seized from firecracker unit

PALAKKAD: Huge quantities of explosives and firecracker materials were seized from Athani near Thrissur on Wednesday following a two-day raid, conducted jointly by the Explosives, Revenue and police departments.  The raid came after a blast in a firecracker unit here claimed the lives of six last week. “The seized explosives included 800 kilograms of potassium chlorate, sulphur, two tonnes of gun powder, strontium nitrate and barium nitrate,” said Controller of Explosives (in charge) J Sundaresan.The manufacturing unit, from where the explosives were seized, had the permit to store only 15 kilograms of ammunition. But according to the officials, the quantity of explosives stored at the unit was many times more than the amount stipulated in the licence. Later, the seized explosives were taken to an isolated quarry and destroyed.