Argus News - 13 Killed, Six Injured In Explosion At Firecracker Unit In Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar

Chennai, Apr 19: At least 13 people were killed and six others injured in a powerful explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit in Kattanarpatti village of Virudhunagar on Sunday, officials said.

Preliminary reports indicate that the blast occurred inside the factory premises, triggering a fire that has since been brought under control. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, while rescue operations continued at the site.

Visuals from the area showed anxious locals gathered near the factory as fire department teams worked to clear debris and search for any remaining victims.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed grief over the loss of lives and directed authorities to extend all necessary assistance to the affected families.

“My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives,” he said in a post on X. He also asked ministers KKSSR Ramachandran and Thangam Thennarasu to visit the village and oversee relief and rescue efforts on the ground.

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Officials said investigations are underway to ascertain the exact cause of the explosion.

Notably, Virudhunagar, a major hub for firecracker manufacturing, has witnessed multiple such incidents in recent years. On April 13, a blast at the Excel fireworks factory killed several workers.

Earlier, on February 17, 2024, a similar explosion claimed 10 lives and injured more than seven people, while another blast on June 29, 2024, left four dead and one injured, highlighting recurring safety concerns in the region.