Thrissur fireworks tragedy: Centre tells Kerala HC that unit deployed more workers than permitted

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The charred remains of the fireworks unit after the blast in Mundathikode in April 2026. | Photo Credit: K.K. Najeeb

The Central government and the Deputy Chief Controller of Explosives recently informed the Kerala High Court that the fireworks manufacturing unit at Mundathikode in Thrissur had deployed more workers than the permissible limit. This was established from the number of people injured and killed in the explosion that occurred in April 2026.

Fireworks items were being carried in the open, and the mandatory safety zones were not maintained between the various areas of manufacturing, the court was informed.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V.M. Syamkumar was considering reports by stakeholders in the incident on the progress on the steps taken to regulate the manufacture and sale of explosive fireworks, the inquiry into the explosion at Mundathikode, and the compensation given to the victims.

The Kerala government informed the court that an inquiry committee constituted by it would file a report on the fireworks explosion shortly.

An independent inquiry by the Additional District Magistrate, Thrissur, was also underway to examine the circumstances leading to the incident and suggest measures to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.

The court was also informed that the Thrissur district administration had extended full cooperation to the inquiry by a single-member judicial commission headed by retired Justice C. N. Ramachandran Nair into the incident.

Additionally, the police authorities reported that a chargesheet was filed with offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Explosives Act, 1884 and the Explosive Substances Act, 1908. The offences include negligent conduct with explosives, culpable homicide, causing grievous hurt, manufacturing, importing or using explosives in violation of the Explosives Act, and malicious use of explosive substances likely to endanger life or property.

Apart from the compensation paid to the affected families, a special campaign was also conducted by the District Mental Health Program to provide psychosocial counselling and intervention to the residents and families traumatised by the disaster.

A makeshift fireworks assembly unit in Mundathikode exploded in April 2026, killing 17 people, injuring more than 24 others, and damaging around 50 houses. The fireworks display was being organised by Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady Devaswom Boards, ahead of the annual Thrissur Pooram festival.

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