23 dead, six injured in blast at firecracker factory in Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar

At least 23 people were killed and six others injured in a powerful explosion at a private firecracker manufacturing unit in Kattanarpatti village in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu on Sunday (April 19), police said. The explosion occurred at the 'Vanaja' fireworks factory owned by one Muthumanickam, in Kattanarpatti. The place is located within the Vachakarapatti police station limits.

According to police and fire rescue officials, four of the six injured are in critical condition and are undergoing treatment at the Virudhunagar Government Medical College Hospital. Of the six injured, three are women who have sustained around 60 per cent



burn injuries, an official said.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the unit reportedly holds a licence from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), Nagpur. More than 100 workers were said to be present in the premises at the time of the incident.

The explosion is believed to have originated in the front veranda, where labourers were allegedly handling raw materials and carrying out finishing work on firecrackers.

The impact of the blast was extremely severe, reducing at least three rooms to rubble and completely flattening several nearby structures.