Robots and drones deployed as continuous blasts prevent personnel from entering Mundathikode disaster site

THRISSUR: The Mundathikode firecracker manufacturing centre remains a scene of devastation following a massive explosion at 3:30 PM today. The facility, which serves as a critical storage hub for the Thiruvambady division’s firecracker materials, has been rocked by continuous secondary blasts that have persisted well past 6:30 PM, effectively paralysing traditional rescue efforts.

The situation on the ground is increasingly volatile, with the fire brigade currently unable to safely approach the epicentre of the accident. In response, State Fire Force Chief Nitin Agarwal has announced the immediate deployment of a specialised firefighting robot to penetrate the danger zone and begin dousing flames where human personnel cannot. Overhead, drones are actively surveying the wreckage, providing a grim bird’s-eye view of the debris as teams search for any signs of life or additional casualties.

The human cost of the disaster is staggering, with 13 lives confirmed lost and more than 40 people injured. At the Medical College Hospital, a frantic medical emergency is underway for 23 victims suffering from severe burns. Five patients remain in critical condition, including one individual who has sustained burns covering more than 90 percent of their body. With the fire still uncontained and the structure unstable, officials warn that the death toll is expected to rise once police and fire units finally gain access to the interior for a full inspection.