Scenes from a powerful explosion at a fireworks unit in Mundathicode were heartbreaking, as rescuers, mostly residents, described how the blast tore through a quiet paddy field, killing at least 12 people, injuring several others, and leaving widespread destruction.
Columns of thick black smoke rose high into the sky from a cluster of temporary sheds erected in the middle of the field, where firecrackers were being prepared for a local annual festival known for its spectacular fireworks and percussion ensembles.
A routine workday quickly descended into chaos at around 3.30 pm.
Firefighters and rescue personnel who rushed to the isolated site were forced to stop midway as intermittent explosions continued, sending shockwaves across the area.
Unable to approach, they sprayed water from a distance, waiting for the blasts to subside before moving in.
The mishap occurred in a shed where crackers were being prepared on behalf of a temple devaswom ahead of the upcoming Thrissur Pooram, which falls on April 26.
The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals.
According to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), eight people were confirmed dead. Five bodies were recovered, while the body parts of three others were found at the site.
Television visuals showed residents assisting in rescue efforts, shifting the injured and recovering remains from the blast site.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed that all necessary medical assistance be provided to the injured and instructed officials to ensure coordinated rescue and relief operations.
He spoke to the chief secretary and directed that, if required, the services of expert doctors from outside the state be utilised for treating those with severe burn injuries, according to a Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) statement.
All departments, including police, fire and rescue services, health, revenue, and disaster management, have been coordinated for rescue efforts, and a special mechanism has been set up to monitor the situation, it said.
The CM also expressed condolences over the loss of lives.
"Parts of bodies were lying scattered. We helped gather them and send them to hospitals," said a local man, his voice trembling.
Wilson, one of the surviving workers, recalled the terrifying moment.
"There was a sudden flash beside me and then fire… after that, I don't remember anything," he said. He maintained that all workers at the unit were Malayalees and that no migrant labourers were employed.
According to him, the unit had been operating in compliance with safety norms.
"There was nothing illegal. Maybe the extreme heat or direct sunlight on the gunpowder triggered the fire," he said.
State Health Minister Veena George directed officials to ensure specialised treatment for the injured and to make necessary arrangements at Government Medical College, Thrissur, and Thrissur General Hospital. Nearby hospitals have also been placed on alert.
She also called for the deployment of additional ambulances, including those under the Kaniv 108 service, for emergency response and patient transport.
According to residents, the explosion occurred at around 3.30 pm, and intermittent blasts continued in the area, hampering rescue operations.
Firecrackers were being manufactured in multiple temporary sheds located in an isolated area amid paddy fields.
A government official who reached the spot said food had reportedly been arranged for around 40 workers, indicating that at least that many people may have been present when the accident occurred.
Some workers are believed to have escaped with minor injuries, he added.
Fire and rescue personnel, along with police, are leading the operations, though continuing explosions are posing serious challenges to rescue efforts.
Wadakanchery Municipal Chairman P N Surendran, who visited the site, said explosions were continuing, preventing people from approaching the area.
“There is still no clarity on how many workers were present in the shed or how many were injured. Extreme heat is suspected to be one of the reasons for the mishap,” he told the media.
He added that the sound of the explosion was heard several kilometres away, and houses in nearby areas suffered damage.
The Thrissur district collector has ordered a magisterial-level inquiry into the incident.
The sub-collector has been tasked with conducting a detailed probe into the cause of the blast and its aftermath, according to a statement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a blast at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Kerala's Thrissur, and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased.
"The Prime Minister has announced that an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000," the Prime Minister's Office said in a post on X.
"Saddened to hear about the loss of lives due to the mishap at a cracker factory in Thrissur, Keralam. My deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest," Modi said in a post on X earlier.
The Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed grief over the loss of lives.
In a post on X, Rahul said he was saddened by the explosion at a fireworks facility in Thrissur days before Pooram, calling the scale of devastation heartbreaking and urging swift rescue efforts and immediate medical care for the injured.
Priyanka Gandhi added, "My heart goes out to the families who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured and strength for all those affected."
Union Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Tourism Suresh Gopi, in a Facebook post, also expressed shock and sadness, saying it was inconceivable that such a tragedy had struck ordinary people working for a livelihood.
He said he had instructed that the injured receive the best possible treatment and that a thorough probe be conducted to determine the cause of the explosion. He expressed condolences to the victims' families.
Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar echoed Gopi's remarks, extending his "thoughts and prayers" in a Facebook post.