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Explosion at Kerala firecracker factory leaves 13 dead
An explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Kerala's Thrissur district killed at least 13 people on Tuesday, officials confirmed. The blast occurred around 3:30 p.m. local time (10:00 GMT) in a cluster of temporary sheds where workers were assembling fireworks for an upcoming Hindu festival.
Rescue efforts hampered by secondary blasts
The initial explosion triggered additional blasts, delaying rescue operations. Emergency teams struggled to reach the site due to poor road access, as the sheds were located near paddy fields. Five of the injured remain in critical condition, while others sustained varying degrees of burns and trauma.
Witnesses reported chaotic scenes as locals rushed to help, pulling victims from the debris. The force of the blast was felt kilometers away, with some residents initially mistaking it for an earthquake. Nearby homes also sustained damage.
Workers preparing fireworks for major festival
The firecrackers were being produced for the Thrissur Pooram, one of Kerala's most celebrated annual temple festivals. The Thiruvambady Temple, one of two main participants in the festival's fireworks display, had obtained permission to manufacture and store up to 2,000 kg of firecrackers for each of the event's four phases.
Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan told the BBC that all units preparing for the festival had authorization to operate in designated areas. However, municipal chairman PN Surendran suggested high afternoon temperatures may have contributed to the blast, though officials have not confirmed the cause.
India's fireworks industry plagued by recurring accidents
This is the second fatal firecracker factory explosion in India this week. On Sunday, a blast in neighboring Tamil Nadu state killed at least 25 people. Such incidents are alarmingly common in India's fireworks industry, particularly around hubs like Sivakasi, which supplies much of the country's firecrackers for weddings and festivals.
A 2018 study highlighted systemic issues, including weak enforcement of safety norms, cramped working conditions, and competitive pressures that often override regulations. Between 2003 and 2010, Sivakasi alone recorded nearly 10,000 accidents, including 398 fatalities.
In 2016, a similar disaster at Kerala's Puttingal Temple-where unauthorized fireworks ignited stockpiled explosives-killed over 100 people and injured 400. Investigations revealed widespread flouting of safety protocols, including storage of explosives in makeshift sheds.
Government announces compensation, orders inquiry
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that medical experts from other states would be brought in to treat burn victims if necessary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced financial assistance of 200,000 rupees ($2,137) for the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees for the injured.
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause of the blast and assign responsibility. Officials said food had been prepared for about 40 workers, suggesting a similar number were present at the time of the explosion.
