NEW DELHI, Apr 21: At least 13 people were killed and five others critically injured in a powerful explosion at a fireworks manufacturing in Thrissur in Kerala on Tuesday, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) said.
The blast occurred at a facility where fireworks materials were being prepared for Thiruvambady as part of the Thrissur Pooram festival celebrations.
Police, fire, and rescue services, and ambulance teams rushed to the site, and the injured were shifted to Government Medical College Hospital, Thrissur, and nearby medical facilities.
The explosion was so powerful that its sound was heard several kilometers away, with many residents initially mistaking it for an earthquake. Thick smoke and flames engulfed the area, hampering rescue operations.
The unit, spread across nearly five acres of paddy fields at Mundathikode, was engaged in preparing fireworks for the Thiruvambady faction of the Thrissur Pooram including materials for the much-anticipated sample fireworks scheduled on April 24.
The explosion occurred around 3:30 pm, triggering a massive blaze that engulfed multiple structures. Of the eight sheds operating at the site, five were gutted in the fire, with three of them housing large quantities of explosive materials. The impact was so severe that sheds were blown apart, with debris and stones flung far into surrounding fields. Body parts were found scattered across the area, underlining the intensity of the blast.
According to the Thrissur Government Medical College sources, five of the injured are in critical condition. One victim has suffered over 90% burns, while four others have sustained around 70% burn injuries. Several others are undergoing treatment at various hospitals.
The fireworks unit was operating under a license issued in the name of Mundathikode Satheesh, who is among those reported to have suffered serious burn injuries. The exact number of workers present at the time of the incident remains unconfirmed.
Rescue operations have been extremely challenging due to continuous explosions and the presence of unexploded fireworks materials. A secondary blast during rescue efforts forced teams to scale back and proceed with heightened caution. Fire and Rescue Services personnel faced difficulty accessing the site due to narrow approach roads and had to breach a compound wall to reach the affected area.
Given the risk, State Fire Force chief Nitin Agarwal said drones have also been deployed, with police assistance, to assess the scale of destruction and locate victims, as firefighters are unable to move close to the epicenter of the blast.
District Collector Shikha Surendran has ordered a detailed magisterial inquiry into the incident. The investigation has been entrusted to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, the Thrissur RDO, to examine the cause of the explosion and its aftermath. While the region has been experiencing intense heat in recent days, officials said it was too early to confirm whether weather conditions contributed to the disaster.
Kerala Health Minister Veena George said, “The explosion at the fireworks storage in Thrissur is deeply distressing. Expert medical treatment is being ensured for those who have suffered burns and injuries. Arrangements have been made for treatment at Thrissur Medical College, General Hospital, and other nearby hospitals. A mass casualty protocol has been activated at the Medical College, and the burns unit has been fully equipped. Additional staff have been deployed. Teams of specialist doctors from medical colleges. in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kottayam, and Kozhikode will also arrive to assist in treatment.”
Further details regarding the cause of the explosion and possible injuries are awaited.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives at a cracker factory in Thrissur. PMO in a post on Mr Modi has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs. 50,000 to the injured.
In the neighboring Tamil Nadu, the death toll in the Virudhunagar firecracker unit tragedy went up to 25 on Tuesday. The tragedy on Sunday
at the ‘Vanaja’ fireworks factory owned by one Muthumanickam, in Kattanarpatti has been recorded as one of the deadliest industrial disasters in the region in recent years. The unit is reportedly licensed by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO), Nagpur.
Eight workers, mostly women, are critically injured with 60 per cent burn injuries. Twelve others, including eight policemen, were injured in a second blast on Sunday evening while rescue operations were underway.
(Rohit Kumar)
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