Sivakasi : At least four people lost their lives after a massive explosion was reported at a firecracker factory in Tamil Nadu’s Sivakasi on Tuesday morning. Several people are also reported to be injured in the explosion. Four people died and five others were injured in an explosion at a firecracker factory in Chinnakamanpatti near Sivakasi. They were admitted to the Virudhunagar government hospital for treatment, Virudhunagar District SP Kannan said.
VIDEO | Tamil Nadu: An explosion at the Gokulesh Fireworks Factory in Chinnakamanpatti, near Sivakasi, in the Virudhunagar district on Tuesday morning killed five workers. Four other workers were injured in the incident. Relief and rescue operations underway.#TamilNaduNews… pic.twitter.com/oBLj2RXSIt
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 1, 2025
The factory is situated in the Chinna Kamanpatti village area in the Virudhnagar district. A blaze erupted after the massive explosion. An envelope of black smoke engulfed the area, causing panic among locals. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital. Authorities rushed to the spot after receiving the information. A rescue operation is currently underway.
Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu is renowned for its fireworks industry, which supplies 80%-90% of India’s fireworks and pyrotechnic requirements. The industry celebrated its centenary year in 2023. In fact, in May this year, Sivakasi sought a Geographical Indications tag for the fireworks industry here. Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers Association (TANFAMA) sought the tag under the manufactured goods category.
Sivaksi fireworks is a Rs 6000-crore industry, but is still plagued by safety problems. The industry has witnessed around 240 deaths since 2014, according to a report by Deccan Herald. Already dealing with issues concerning the transition from traditional crackers to the green ones, the industry was also hit by allegations of child labour. And then it was hit by Covid. Sivakasi has over 1,000 fireworks factories, which is nearly two-thirds of the total units in Tamil Nadu. The workers, mostly women, in the fireworks industry are highly skilled.
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