India, April 22 -- On April 21, 2026, as preparations gathered pace for Thrissur Pooram, a fireworks unit at Mundathikode in Thrissur district exploded into a series of devastating blasts that killed at least 13 workers and left several others with severe burn injuries.

The explosions did not merely tear through sheds packed with volatile chemicals. They exposed, yet again, the fragile and often illusory nature of safety practices surrounding one of Kerala's most celebrated festivals.

By the time rescue teams could enter, the site had become a charred landscape of twisted metal, scorched earth and human remains. Survivors spoke of a sudden flash, followed by continuous detonations that made escape nearly impossible.

Many of those who d...