At least 25 people have been killed in an explosion at a firecracker factory in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with four others seriously injured. The blast occurred at the Vanaja Fireworks Industry in Virudhunagar on Sunday evening. The factory was supposed to be closed but about 50 workers were inside at the time, officials said. A second explosion occurred while rescue operations were ongoing, injuring 13 more people, although none sustained serious burns, District Collector NO Sukhaputra told ANI news agency.
The cause of the blast is not yet known and an investigation is underway. An eyewitness, who is being treated for injuries, reported that around 25 people were working in the veranda in front of the factory when the fire broke out, damaging at least three rooms and reducing parts of the building to rubble. Rescue operations were significantly slowed down as firecrackers continued to explode inside the building.
A complaint has been filed against the factory owner and foreman, both of whom are absconding, police said, adding that four special teams have been set up to trace and arrest them. Meanwhile, efforts to identify the victims continued on Monday; district officials confirmed that 22 of the 25 deceased have been identified, most of whom are women. Reports suggest that the force of the blast left several bodies charred beyond recognition.
Accidents at fireworks factories in India are not uncommon, with the industry often supplying firecrackers for weddings, festivals, and other ceremonies, facing repeated scrutiny over safety standards. As the investigation continues, questions regarding possible safety violations are being raised. District collector Sukhaputra noted that the factory should not have operated on a Sunday, marking it as a 'first violation.' He acknowledged that while the factory held a valid license, checks into other possible breaches were ongoing. The tragedy has also elicited responses from politicians, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling the situation 'deeply distressing' and offering condolences to the families of those killed, while Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin described the deaths as causing 'immense sorrow'.
The cause of the blast is not yet known and an investigation is underway. An eyewitness, who is being treated for injuries, reported that around 25 people were working in the veranda in front of the factory when the fire broke out, damaging at least three rooms and reducing parts of the building to rubble. Rescue operations were significantly slowed down as firecrackers continued to explode inside the building.
A complaint has been filed against the factory owner and foreman, both of whom are absconding, police said, adding that four special teams have been set up to trace and arrest them. Meanwhile, efforts to identify the victims continued on Monday; district officials confirmed that 22 of the 25 deceased have been identified, most of whom are women. Reports suggest that the force of the blast left several bodies charred beyond recognition.
Accidents at fireworks factories in India are not uncommon, with the industry often supplying firecrackers for weddings, festivals, and other ceremonies, facing repeated scrutiny over safety standards. As the investigation continues, questions regarding possible safety violations are being raised. District collector Sukhaputra noted that the factory should not have operated on a Sunday, marking it as a 'first violation.' He acknowledged that while the factory held a valid license, checks into other possible breaches were ongoing. The tragedy has also elicited responses from politicians, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling the situation 'deeply distressing' and offering condolences to the families of those killed, while Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin described the deaths as causing 'immense sorrow'.
