At least 25 workers, most of them women, died in a powerful explosion at a fireworks factory in Tamil Nadu, southern India, on Sunday. The blast occurred at the Vanaja Fireworks unit near Kattanarpatti village in Virudhunagar district at around 3.20pm local time, when nearly 100 people were on site.
The explosion, believed to have happened while workers were mixing chemicals, flattened at least four sheds and sent plumes of smoke 50 feet into the air. A police officer described the blast as so powerful that three rooms were reduced to rubble and several adjacent structures were damaged.
Rescue crews recovered 23 bodies from the debris, and six injured workers were taken to hospital, four in critical condition. A subsequent explosion later in the evening, triggered as rescuers cleared rubble with an earthmover, injured 17 people, including six police officers and four firefighters.
Officials said the factory appeared to be operating in violation of multiple safety norms despite holding a licence. District collector N O Sukhapatra said the factory was not supposed to operate on a Sunday, adding that the licence would be cancelled. The owner, the wife of a former village council head, is reportedly absconding, and police have filed a complaint and launched a manhunt.
Further violations were alleged by the Firecrackers and Matchbox Manufacturers Association district president PN Deva, who said the unit was permitted to employ only 25 workers but many more were present. He also noted that regulations restrict chemical mixing to between 8am and 10am, yet the explosion occurred hours later, indicating operations continued throughout the day.
Many bodies were charred beyond recognition. A family member told ANI that she lost both her father and mother in the accident. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin described the deaths as tragic, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu expressed condolences. The Virudhunagar–Sivakasi belt is India's fireworks hub, but the industry has long been plagued by safety concerns, with regular accidents.
