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Use of potassium chlorate in blasts raises concern

Staff Reporter

Expert confirms presence of the chemical in the crackers in Kozhikode

MALAPPURAM: The finding of potassium chlorate in the blasts at Edayur in Malappuram district and the S.M. Street in Kozhikode town has raised serious concerns about the safety of crackers and fireworks.

The blasts, in which seven persons each were killed, have thrown light on the uncontrolled use of potassium chlorate, a chemical compound banned in crackers and fireworks.

Assistant Director (Explosives) of Forensic Sciences Laboratory P.D. Somarajan on Saturday confirmed that potassium chlorate was profusely used in the crackers stocked at the shops at Moideen Palli, from where Thursday's fire originated devastating the entire street.

Bagfuls of potassium chlorate were found at Pullamparamba in the Edayur panchayat, where a fireworks manufacturing unit exploded killing seven labourers who worked there on March 31.

Explosives experts said the use of potassium chlorate instead of the less powerful potassium nitrate must have enhanced the blasts manifold.

The use of potassium chlorate - a compound containing potassium, chlorine and oxygen, with the chemical formula K[ClO3] - is banned in fireworks as it can cause potential danger.

It reacts vigorously and in some cases spontaneously ignites or explodes when mixed with combustible materials.

Experts said potassium chlorate, if mixed with other materials, could form a high explosive.

Mr. Somarajan said that it did not require a spark for potassium chlorate to explode. Even the pressure from a knock can explode this compound.

Potassium chlorate, villain of immeasurable casualties during World War I, has even reportedly caused a plane crash.

Meanwhile, the defusing of unexploded crackers and shells at Pullamparabu continued for the sixth day on Saturday.

Manjalamkuzhi Ali, MLA, on Saturday requested Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan to enhance the relief amount to the kin of those killed in the Pullamparambu blast to Rs.1 lakh.

In a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Mr. Ali demanded that the Government meet the expenses of the injured and reconstruct the houses destroyed in the blast.

Seven men, most of them youngsters, were seemingly killed in the blast. The death of six of them - Velu, 55; Unnimon, 19; Sreejit alias Kuttan, 20; Husain, 21; Madhavan, 57; and Ratheesh, 20 - was confirmed.

But the death of Sasi from Mannarkkad is yet to be confirmed as his body could not be identified.

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