&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "At least 8 killed, several injured after explosion in firecracker factory in Kerala's Thrissur")
At least eight people lost their lives, and several others were injured in an explosion at a fireworks manufacturing unit at Mundathicode in central Thrissur district on Tuesday (April 21, 2026), officials said. Nearly 40 people were expected to have been present in the shed during the blast, out of them multiple sustained burn injuries, and several were reported to be in critical condition.
During the incident, eight people were confirmed dead. Among them, five bodies were recovered, while the remains of three others were found at the site, and the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, according to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA).
CM expresses condolences
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan directed authorities to provide all necessary medical care to the injured and ensure well-coordinated rescue and relief efforts. He spoke with the chief secretary and said that, if needed, expert doctors from outside the state should be brought in to treat those with serious burn injuries, according to a CMO statement.
The statement added that multiple departments, including police, fire and rescue, health, revenue, and disaster management, have been mobilised for the operation, with a special system set up to monitor the situation. The Chief Minister also expressed grief over the loss of lives.
State Health Minister Veena George directed officials to ensure advanced medical care for the injured and make arrangements at Government Medical College, Thrissur, and Thrissur General Hospital, while nearby hospitals have been put on alert.
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In addition, State Health Minister Veena George also ordered officials to ensure advanced medical support for the injured and make all posible arrangements at Government Medical College, Thrissur, and Thrissur General Hospital, putting all nearby hospitals on alert.
She also instructed to deploy extra ambulances, including under the Kaniv 108 service, for emergency response and patient transport. Residents confirmed that the explosion occurred at nearly 3.30 pm, with continous blast hampering rescue operations.
An official at the site said arrangements had reportedly been made for meals for about 40 workers, suggesting that at least that number may have been present when the incident took place. He added that some workers likely managed to escape with minor injuries. Rescue operations are being led by fire and rescue teams along with the police, though ongoing explosions are making the efforts more difficult.
The Thrissur district collector has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, assigning the sub-collector to carry out a detailed investigation into the cause of the blast and its aftermath, according to an official statement.
