Thrissur Firecracker Unit Explosion: Death Toll Expected to Rise as Rescue Operations Continue

Thrissur: Rescue operations by multiple Fire and Rescue Service units and local residents are continuing at the site of the Firecracker manufacturing unit explosion, but fire fighters have been unable to penetrate the inner areas of the site due to relentless secondary explosions and dense smoke. Water is being sprayed from a distance in an attempt to bring the blaze under control, but the fire has not been fully contained. It remains unclear whether anyone is still alive among the debris, as the site cannot yet be accessed.

The facility, spread across five storage tents, held the complete gunpowder stockpile for both the sample display scheduled for April 24 and the main Thrissur Pooram fireworks on the morning of April 27. Residents in the vicinity reported finding severed body parts scattered around the blast site. Eight of the injured have been taken to Thrissur Medical College Hospital. The identities of the deceased have not yet been officially released.

Concerns also persist that gunpowder has been scattered outside the facility perimeter, adding to the hazard for rescue personnel and residents in surrounding areas.

According to reports, four people have been confirmed dead so far and over 30 are feared trapped inside the debris. The blast, which occurred around 3 pm at the Thiruvambadi section's fireworks facility for the Thrissur Pooram, sent shockwaves across neighbouring areas and caused panic among residents for kilometres around. Explosions continued for hours after the initial blast, locals said.