A devastating explosion rocked a firecracker manufacturing unit in Vadakarai near Kariyapatti in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar district, killing two workers and injuring three others on Tuesday.

The deceased have been identified as Sowdammal (53) from Kalkurichi and Karuppaiah (35) from Kandiyanendhal. The blast also left Murugan (45), Petchiammal (43), and Ganeshan (53) — all residents of Kandiyanendhal — with serious injuries. They were immediately rushed to the Government Hospital for emergency treatment.

The incident occurred at Yuvaraj Fireworks, a licensed unit owned by Raja Chandrasekar. Upon receiving the alert, personnel from the fire and rescue department swiftly responded and worked to bring the flames under control.

Following initial assessments, police confirmed that the unit had all required permissions to operate. However, an investigation has been launched by the Kariyapatti police to determine the exact cause of the explosion and check for any safety violations or lapses in procedure.

The tragedy has once again spotlighted the recurring dangers associated with fireworks manufacturing in the region, which is known for its concentration of such units. Worker safety and factory oversight remain under scrutiny, as past incidents continue to echo with little systemic change.