Thrissur (Kerala): At least 13 people were killed and several others injured after a powerful explosion ripped through a fireworks manufacturing unit in central Kerala's Thrissur district on Tuesday afternoon, turning a quiet paddy field into a scene of devastation and triggering a large-scale rescue effort that continued for hours amid intermittent blasts.
The explosion occurred around 3.30 pm at Mundathicode, where firecrackers were being prepared in multiple temporary sheds for the upcoming Thrissur Pooram festival scheduled for April 26. Officials said around 40 workers were believed to be present at the time, though the exact number remains unclear as authorities work to account for all those at the site.
Hospital authorities at Government Medical College, Thrissur, confirmed that 13 bodies, including dismembered remains, had been received and counted as individual fatalities. Several injured persons were admitted for treatment, with at least 13 people undergoing care, including three women. Five of the injured are reported to be in critical condition with more than 70 per cent burn injuries. The force of the explosion sent thick columns of black smoke into the sky and was heard several kilometres away, residents said. At least five sheds spread across several acres were destroyed in the blaze, and nearby houses reportedly suffered damage from the shockwaves.
Rescue operations were complicated by continuing explosions from stored firecrackers, forcing firefighters and police personnel to proceed with extreme caution. Teams initially had to spray water from a distance before entering the site as blasts continued to erupt intermittently.
Television visuals and eyewitness accounts captured the scale of the tragedy, with local residents among the first responders. Many were seen carrying the injured across slushy terrain and assisting in the recovery of remains scattered across the site.
"Parts of bodies were lying scattered. We helped gather them and send them to hospitals," a local resident said.
Wilson, a worker who survived the blast, described the moment of the explosion. "There was a sudden flash beside me and then fire. After that, I don't remember anything," he said, adding that all workers at the unit were Malayalees and that no migrant labourers were employed.
He maintained that the unit had been operating in line with safety requirements and suggested that extreme heat or direct sunlight on stored gunpowder could have triggered the fire. Local officials also indicated that high temperatures may have been a contributing factor, though the exact cause has not yet been established.
Authorities said food had reportedly been arranged for around 40 workers at the site, reinforcing estimates about the number of people present. Some workers managed to escape with minor injuries.
Wadakanchery Municipal Chairman P N Surendran, who visited the site, said there was still no clarity on the total number of workers or injured persons due to the ongoing hazards. He noted that the heat and continuing blasts made it difficult for rescue teams and locals to approach the area safely.
Most of those affected are believed to be residents of Mundathicode and nearby Kundannur areas. The fireworks unit had reportedly been operating in the region for years without any major incident, making the scale of the accident particularly shocking for the local community.
The Kerala government has mobilised multiple departments, including police, fire and rescue services, health, revenue, and disaster management, to coordinate rescue and relief operations. A special mechanism has been set up to monitor the situation.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed that all necessary medical assistance be provided to the injured and instructed officials to ensure coordinated action across departments. He also said that expert doctors from outside the state could be brought in if required to treat those with severe burn injuries.
State Health Minister Veena George ordered that specialised treatment be ensured for the injured and directed authorities to make necessary arrangements at Government Medical College, Thrissur, and Thrissur General Hospital. Nearby hospitals have also been placed on alert to handle additional cases.
A control room has been opened at the state-run medical college to assist families and coordinate information related to the injured and deceased.
The district administration has ordered a magisterial-level inquiry into the incident. The sub-collector has been tasked with conducting a detailed probe into the cause of the explosion and the circumstances surrounding it.
The state government has sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for rescue and related operations as efforts continue to secure the area, locate any remaining victims, and defuse unexploded firecrackers.
Expressions of grief poured in from political leaders across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed condolences over the loss of lives and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also expressed sorrow over the tragedy. Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi described the incident as deeply distressing, while BJP Kerala chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar and state Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan also conveyed their condolences.
As smoke gradually cleared from the blast site, families gathered outside hospitals and the affected area, waiting for information about missing relatives. Festive preparations for Thrissur Pooram have been overshadowed by grief, as authorities continue rescue operations and attempt to establish the full extent of one of the most severe such accidents in the region in recent years.