Chennai: At least 23 people were killed in a major explosion at a firecracker factory in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar district on Sunday afternoon, according to officials of the fire and rescue department.
Hospital authorities from Virudhunagar Medical College and Hospital also confirmed that 23 people lost lives and six were under treatment.
The toll could rise as eye witnesses say that many might have been trapped in the debris. Preliminary reports suggest that the explosion occurred due to friction of raw materials during the manufacture of firecrackers.
The massive explosion took place at four units of the Vanaja firecracker factory, when more than 30 workers were engaged in routine manufacturing processes.
The injured were rushed to hospital, while rescue operations are ongoing at the site of the accident in the Kattanarpatti area. District Superintendent of Police Shreenatha reached the site to inspect the accident.
So powerful was the explosion that the four units collapsed completely and were completely engulfed in fire and destroyed. Onlookers reported that the sound of the blast was heard up to a few kilometres away from the site of the accident.
Sunday’s accident is the latest in the recurring firecrackers blasts and fire accidents in Virudhunagar district, which is the hub to India’s fireworks industry. On 13 April, one worker was killed and three others injured in an explosion at a fireworks factory near Sattur in the district.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed sorrow and directed Ministers K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran and Thangam Thennarasu to oversee search and rescue efforts, coordinate assistance, and provide support to the affected families.
விருதுநகர் மாவட்டம் கட்டனார்பட்டியில் ஏற்பட்ட பட்டாசு ஆலை வெடி விபத்தில் பலர் உயிரிழந்துள்ள துயரச் செய்தி மிகுந்த வேதனையளிக்கிறது. உயிரிழந்தோரின் குடும்பத்தினருக்கு எனது ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கல்கள்.
மீட்புப் பணிகளை விரைவுபடுத்திக் கண்காணிக்கவும், பாதிக்கப்பட்ட குடும்பங்களுக்கு ஆறுதல்…
— M.K.Stalin – தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) April 19, 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu also expressed grief and extended condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the accident.
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami blamed Stalin for not taking effective measures to avoid firecracker accidents.
Expressing condolences, he alleged that in the past five years under the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) rule, firecracker factory accidents and loss of lives have become a recurring saga.
“Despite my consistent warnings, the DMK government under M.K.Stalin has taken no steps whatsoever to ensure the safety of firecracker factories. Instead, they merely conducted a photo-op in a shiny room under the guise of a firecracker factory,” he said.
“I firmly wish to assure that the AIADMK government, set to be formed in just a few days, will not disappoint in this manner and will take appropriate actions to enforce safety protocols in firecracker factories.”
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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