Death toll hits 14 in Mundathikode blast; 10 still critical; forensic testing to identify victims

THRISSUR/MUNDATHIKODE: A massive explosion at a firecracker manufacturing center in Mundathikode, Kuttamkulam, has claimed 14 lives, sending shockwaves through the community of Thrissur Pooram devotees. The facility was being used by the Thiruvambady Devaswom section to prepare fireworks for the upcoming festival.

Casualties and identification

Of the 14 deceased, three victims were identified following an inquest conducted late last night:

• Subin (45), son of Vijayan, from Kundannoor.
• Vasudevan (54), from Kumaranellur, Wadakkanchery. He is survived by his wife, Sanitha, and children: Ashwin, Devdha, and Anusree.
• Sudarshanan (56), from Pazhayannur, Vennur. He is survived by his wife, Chandrika, and children: Anoop and Subin.

The remaining victims are yet to be identified due to the severity of the blast; only seven bodies were recovered intact, while others suffered extreme dismemberment. Forensic examinations and DNA testing will be utilised for the remaining identifications at the Thrissur Medical College Hospital morgue.

Incident

The explosion occurred at approximately 3:20 PM across five huts where fireworks were being assembled. At the time of the blast, 35 workers were present on-site. Survival was a matter of seconds; while 13 workers were fatally burned at the scene and one later succumbed to injuries, eight managed to escape. Among the survivors who fled as the huts ignited are Biju, Vincent, Bhavani, Anitha, and Babu.

Satheesan of Mundathikode, a veteran with 13 years in the industry and the licensee for the Thiruvambady section, is among those in critical condition. Currently, 10 survivors are battling for their lives in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Medical College’s burns department.

Investigation and possible causes

While the official cause remains under investigation, survivor testimony suggests the extreme heat may have played a role. Vincent, one of the workers who escaped, noted that the intense ambient temperature could have caused the black powder or fuses to spontaneously ignite.

District Collector Sikha Surendran has ordered a formal inquiry into the disaster, appointing the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Thrissur RDO) to lead the investigation. Fire force and police authorities have stated that a definitive cause will only be confirmed following a comprehensive forensic analysis of the site.

Challenging rescue operation

The rescue efforts were severely hampered by the remote location and the volatile nature of the site. It took emergency teams more than three hours to fully access the spot, primarily due to the lack of a proper access road. Firefighters were eventually forced to break down a nearby wall to reach the burning structures.

The operation was further complicated by:

• Ongoing volatility: Frequent, smaller explosions of scattered firecrackers prevented responders from entering the immediate area for several hours.
• Initial containment: In the early stages, rescue teams could only spray water from a safe distance as a precaution against secondary blasts.
• Debris radius: The force of the explosion was so immense that it scattered debris and human remains over a 500-meter radius.

Witnesses reported hearing a deafening blast resembling an earthquake, audible for kilometres. The fire was eventually brought under control by 6:30 PM, after which the grim task of recovering victims began in earnest.

Condition of injured

Thirteen individuals are currently receiving intensive care at the Medical College Burns ICU. Those undergoing treatment include:

• Fireworks contractor: Satheesan (46)
• Workers and Locals: Babu (54), Vishnu (40), Praveen (45), Rajesh (40), Anitha (50), Akhil (40), Udayakumar (48), Hari (40), Babu (57), Sundaran (45), Subhadra (68), and Bhavani (65).

Ex-gratia and financial assistance

In the wake of the tragedy, both central and state governments have announced financial relief:

• Prime Minister’s Relief: PM Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased victim and ₹50,000 for those injured.
• State Government Allocation: The State Government has sanctioned ₹50 lakh to manage the emergency. District Collector Sikha Surendran has been authorized to utilize these funds from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for immediate relief and medical expenses.

Total devastation at the site

The fire occurred within the 41st division of the Wadakkanchery Municipality, an area bordering the Velur and Avanur panchayats. The manufacturing unit was situated on a secluded, two-acre plot of land that sits like an island in the middle of open fields.

The facility consisted of three manufacturing sheds and two rest cabins. The sheer force of the inferno resulted in the total destruction of two manufacturing plants and both rest cabins, leaving behind only charred ruins. A third shed, used for storing finished fireworks and located a short distance away, miraculously did not catch fire, preventing an even larger secondary disaster.