CHENNAI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that at least 25 workers died and six others were injured in an explosion at a private firecracker manufacturing unit in the Kattanarpatti area of the Virudhunagar district.
In a statement dated April 24, NHRC said “ Tamil Nadu. Reportedly, more than 100 workers including women were present at the factory complex when the incident occurred on 19th April 2026. The blast was allegedly triggered due to friction during the chemical mixing and manufacturing process. Reportedly, in a recent similar incident in the district, four persons had died”.
The NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of the news report regarding the death of 18 workers and injuries to six others in a blast at a private firecracker manufacturing unit in the Kattanarpatti area of Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu.
The NHRC has issued notices to the Chief… pic.twitter.com/YxmLcRFKfi
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The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of human rights violations of the victims. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Tamil Nadu and the Superintendent of Police, Virudhunagar, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.
It should include the status of health of the injured persons, investigation of the case and compensation, if any, has been paid to the NoK of the deceased and the injured persons.
The explosion occurred on April 19 at a firecracker manufacturing unit around 3.20pm at Muthuramlingapuram panchayat in the Kattanarpatti area of Virudhunagar and claimed the lives of 25 people. The blast was allegedly triggered due to friction during the chemical mixing and manufacturing process. Proximity of a chemical storage room amplified impact. Eyewitnesses said “ heard the blast several km away. a plume of white fumes rising over 50ft.
Fire and rescue teams from Sattur, Virudhunagar town and Sivakasi battled flames and searched debris. Injured workers were taken to Virudhunagar govt hospital many with critical burns.
District collector N O Sukhaputra told media “Vanaja Fireworks, is the licence holder to manufacture fire crackers. But it functioned on a Sunday in violation of rules. The factory was not supposed to work on Sunday. We will initiate action after a detailed inquiry and the licence would be cancelled”.
It is important to note that there was a similar incident in the district recently where four workers had died.
In another incident, two workers, Dinesh and Surya Prabu, died when a chemical mixing room was opened at Lakshmi Fireworks in Cumbum.
Virudhunagar, the hub of India’s fireworks manufacturing (Sivakasi), is frequently reports fatal blasts due to violations of safety regulations, such as working on Sundays.
