Firefighters managed to put out the flames after a long battle as chemical residues and unfinished goods continued to explode at a fireworks unit near Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar district. Photo: Special arrangement
In one of the deadliest accidents at the fireworks factory in Tamil Nadu more recently, 23 workers were killed and eight others injured in an explosion at the Vanaja fireworks unit at Kattanarpatti near Virudhunagar on Sunday (April 19, 2026). A second blast at the unit injured 17, including six police officers and four firefighters. Rescuers and journalists, including this reporter and his fellow photographer, who gathered at the scene narrowly escaped injury.
Most of the victims were burned beyond recognition, many bodies blown away by the impact of the explosion. Firefighters were seen collecting mutilated body parts scattered all around the unit. Many bodies were pulled from the rubble after one of the shelters collapsed on the workers.
Published – 19 Apr 2026 17:32 IST
