A powerful explosion at an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit near Tiruvonam in Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s Thanjavur district claimed the lives of two workers on Sunday.
The victims, identified as K. Sundarraj (60) and A. Riaz (19), were from Neyveli Thenpathy village. They were reportedly preparing firecrackers inside a makeshift unit when the blast occurred, killing them instantly.
Authorities revealed that the unit was operating without any official permission or safety clearance. The facility was allegedly owned by a woman named Samrath Begum, with operations carried out on a property belonging to another villager, Annadurai.
Police from the Vattathukkottai station responded to the scene and recovered the bodies, which were sent to a government hospital for post-mortem. Preliminary investigations confirmed that neither the owner nor the location had approval to manufacture or store explosives.
Local residents expressed shock, saying the unit had been operating discreetly. &ldquo;We heard a loud explosion around 9 a.m. and rushed to the site, only to find it engulfed in flames,&rdquo; a villager recounted.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Explosives Act and the Indian Penal Code. Police are continuing their probe to identify other individuals linked to the operation.
Officials are also investigating the presence of other unlicensed firecracker units in the vicinity. A joint inspection of the blast site by the Revenue and Fire and Rescue Services departments is planned to assess damage and recommend preventive steps.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by unauthorised firework manufacturing units. The district administration has promised strict action to dismantle such illegal setups and safeguard public safety.

Explosion at an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit

From unlicensed operations to fatal consequences—Tamil Nadu faces renewed scrutiny over illegal firework units after a deadly explosion

Blast at Illegal Firecracker Unit in Tamil Nadu Kills Two, Sparks Crackdown

From unlicensed operations to fatal consequences—Tamil Nadu faces renewed scrutiny over illegal firework units after a deadly explosion

May 18, 2025 | 16:28 IST