Around 100 staff were inside firecracker factory on Sunday in Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu, India at the time of the explosion
Gina Martinez
, Tahir Ibn Manzoor and Gina Martinez Senior News Reporter, Mirror US
16:06 ET, 19 Apr 2026Updated 16:36 ET, 19 Apr 2026
There was an explosion at a firecracker factory in Tamil Nadu, India, killing at least 20 people (Image: PTI News)
At least twenty people are dead following a huge explosion at a firecracker factory in India.
Around 100 staff were inside firecracker factory on Sunday in Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu, India at the time of the explosion.
The explosion left dozens injured with severe burns. Officials said four of the six injured workers were in a critical condition and were being treated at a local hospital. Of the six workers injured, three of them were women.
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The cause of the blast has not been confirmed yet by officials.
Preliminary investigations suggest the explosion was triggered by friction during the chemical mixing or manufacturing process. The unit was reportedly operating on a Sunday without proper permission, despite the industry typically being closed.
Preliminary investigations suggest the explosion was triggered by friction during the chemical mixing or manufacturing process.
Of the six initially injured, four remain in critical condition with severe burns. A second explosion later in the day injured 17 more people, including police officers and firemen who were clearing debris.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has directed senior ministers to the site to oversee rescue operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, describing the event as “deeply distressing.”
“I extend my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest,” he added.
A second explosion later in the day injured 17 more people, including police officers and firemen who were clearing debris.
The Virudhunagar region is the center of India’s fireworks industry, accounting for approximately 90% of production, but it is frequently plagued by fatal accidents due to poor safety enforcement and illegal operating procedures.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also shared condolences.
“The tragic news of the deaths of several people in the firecracker factory explosion that occurred in Kattanapatti, Virudhunagar district, causes immense sorrow,” he said in a statement on X.
“I have requested the esteemed Ministers K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran and Thangam Thennarasu to rush to the scene immediately to expedite and monitor the rescue operations and to offer solace to the affected families,” he said.