New Delhi, April 19 -- At least 23 people were killed and six others suffered severe injuries after a powerful explosion tore through a private firecracker manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district on Sunday, officials said.
The incident occurred at the 'Vanaja' fireworks factory in Kattanarpatti, which falls under the Vachakarapatti police station limits. The unit is owned by Muthumanickam. According to preliminary findings, the facility reportedly holds a licence issued by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation in Nagpur. More than 100 workers were said to be present at the complex at the time of the explosion.
Investigators believe the blast originated in the front veranda area of the factory, where workers were handling raw materials and were engaged in the final stages of cracker production. The explosion triggered a massive fire and caused extensive structural damage.
The force of the blast reduced at least three rooms to rubble and levelled several nearby structures. "We have recovered 23 bodies so far, many of which were charred beyond recognition," a police official said. Authorities said they were yet to determine the identities or even the sex of several victims due to the condition of the remains.
Among the six injured, four are reported to be in critical condition and are undergoing treatment at the Virudhunagar Government Medical College Hospital. Three of the injured are women who sustained around 60 per cent burn injuries, officials added.
Fire and rescue services personnel battled the blaze for several hours as intermittent bursts of firecrackers continued long after the initial explosion, complicating rescue efforts. Officials fear that more workers may still be trapped beneath the debris, and search operations remain underway.
The tragedy is being described as the deadliest industrial accident in the region this year. It comes within days of another explosion in the district's Vembakottai area that left four people dead.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed grief over the loss of lives and said he had directed senior ministers to visit the site. In a post on X, he said the news of the explosion causing multiple deaths had brought "immense sorrow" and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.
He added that Ministers K K S S R Ramachandran and Thangam Thennarasu had been asked to rush to the site to oversee rescue operations and provide support to affected families. Stalin also said he had spoken to the district collector and instructed officials to ensure all necessary assistance.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also expressed his condolences, stating that the victims were workers who had left home to earn a livelihood. He wished a quick recovery for those injured. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra similarly conveyed her grief, offering condolences to families and prayers for the injured.
Authorities said further details would emerge as rescue operations continue.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.