Amid dangers, cracker industry still a colourful attraction

IT'S that time of the year when lakhs across Tamil Nadu are gearing up to burst crackers as it has always been the central attraction of Deepavali celebrations. The first picture that comes to anyone's mind thinking about crackers would be colourful sparks or fireworks.

- HARINI M

However, the lives of cracker manufacturers that were lost or crippled are quite often forgotten, like the discards and ash left over by crackers.

In the case of R Nagajothi (35), each day is filled with despair ever since she sustained injuries in a blast at Sengamalapatti on May 9. "Every night, she growls in pain, and struggles to sleep. Doctors said it will take a year for her burns to heal. Currently, our daughter takes care of household chores before leaving for school," said Nagajothi's husband Ramamoorthy (37), who has requested kids of the neighbourhood not to burst crackers, as it would panic her.