23 Dead in Tamil Nadu Fireworks Factory Blast

At least 23 people died and several others were injured in a massive explosion at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, on Sunday, officials confirmed, marking one of the deadliest industrial accidents in the region this year.

The blast occurred around 3 p.m. at the Vanaja fireworks factory in Kattanarpatti village, within the Vachakarapatti police station limits. The facility, owned by Muthumanickam, employed over 100 workers and held a license from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation in Nagpur. Preliminary investigations indicate the explosion originated in the front veranda area, where workers were handling raw materials during the final stages of production. The force of the detonation reduced three rooms to rubble and leveled nearby structures, with fires continuing to burn for hours afterward.

District Collector J. Noordeen Sukhaputra reported that rescue operations were complicated by a secondary blast that injured 13 personnel, including police, firefighters, revenue officials, and volunteers. None of those rescuers sustained serious injuries and all are receiving treatment. Of the 23 fatalities, 19 bodies have been identified,...