23 dead, 6 injured in massive blast at Tamil Nadu firecracker unit; owner on the run, licence may be cancelled

VIRUDHUNAGAR: A powerful explosion killed 23 workers and injured six at a firecracker factory in Kattanarpatti village Sunday afternoon, underscoring a long history of fatal blasts in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu - part of India's main fireworks manufacturing belt centred around Sivakasi.

The blast struck around 3.20pm at Muthuramlingapuram panchayat, roughly 520km southwest of Chennai, when 36 workers were handling firecracker chemicals. Investigators said friction of chemicals likely triggered the explosion, flattening at least four sheds. Proximity of a chemical storage room amplified impact. Villagers reported hearing the blast several km away. Witnesses described a plume of white fumes rising over 50ft. Fire and rescue teams from Sattur, Virudhunagar town and Sivakasi battled flames and searched debris. Injured workers were taken to Virudhunagar govt hospital, many with critical burns.

Officials said the unit, Vanaja Fireworks, held a licence but was operating on a Sunday in violation of rules. "The factory was not supposed to function on a Sunday. We will initiate stern action after a detailed inquiry," said district collector N O Sukhaputra, adding the licence would be cancelled. Investigators are probing whether safety norms were breached.

Preliminary findings suggest the licence was obtained in the name of Eswari, wife of Muthuramalingam, a former panchayat president, who is on the run.

Police registered a case and formed four special teams to trace the owner and the associates, said SP N Srinatha.

Rescue and salvage faced a setback when a secondary, milder blast occurred around 7.20pm as debris was being cleared with an earthmover. Thirteen people, including fire service personnel and police, sustained minor injuries from flying debris. Operations were briefly halted.

Firecrackers and Matchbox Manufacturers Association district president PN Deva said the factory is permitted to employ 25 workers but had more on site. He said law requires chemical mixing between 8am and 10am, yet explosion occurred around 3pm, showing that mixing continued all day.

CM MK Stalin said he had asked ministers to rush to the site to monitor rescue operations and support families.

Condolences poured in. President Droupadi Murmu wrote on X: "The loss of lives in a tragic accident at a firecracker factory in Virudhunagar district, TN, is deeply distressing. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery."

Modi said: "The mishap in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu is deeply distressing. I extend my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest." Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, Union minister Amit Shah and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also expressed grief.

The Virudhunagar-Sivakasi belt is known as India's fireworks hub, supplying a large share of country's crackers and employing thousands in small units.

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