Two people were killed and another sustained serious injuries after a powerful explosion occurred during alleged illegal firecracker manufacturing at a private building in Puliyankulam village near Kovilpatti in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district, police said on Wednesday.

According to officials, the blast took place near the forest temple area of Puliyankulam village, triggering panic among local residents and drawing emergency response teams to the scene.

The deceased were identified as Ayyappan (30), a resident of the same locality, and Malathi (25), a resident of Pullanaickenpatti. Both reportedly died on the spot due to severe burn and blast injuries caused by the explosion.

Another injured person, identified as Surya Prakash (24) from Manjal Odaipatti village in neighbouring Virudhunagar district, sustained serious injuries and was rushed for treatment. He is currently undergoing medical care at Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital.

Police officials said preliminary investigation indicated that illegal firecracker manufacturing activities were allegedly being carried out inside the building where the explosion occurred.

Following the incident, police registered a case against Saravanan of Puliyankulam village, his wife Maheswari (30), and the building owner Gurunathan (65) in connection with the alleged illegal cracker production operation.

Authorities confirmed that Maheswari and Gurunathan have been arrested, while efforts are underway to trace and question other individuals linked to the case.

Police teams and forensic experts inspected the blast site to determine the exact cause of the explosion and assess whether explosive materials were being stored in violation of safety norms and licensing regulations.

The incident once again highlights recurring concerns over illegal firecracker manufacturing units operating in parts of Tamil Nadu despite repeated crackdowns by authorities.

Districts in southern Tamil Nadu, including Virudhunagar, Sivakasi, Thoothukudi and surrounding regions, have witnessed multiple firecracker-related explosions in recent years, often linked to unlicensed storage, unsafe handling of chemicals and violations of safety standards.

Officials said the force of the blast damaged parts of the structure and created fear among nearby residents. Police have also begun examining whether the unit had prior permissions or if explosives were being manufactured entirely outside legal regulations.

Further investigation is currently underway to identify the source of raw materials, the scale of operations and whether additional individuals were involved in running the illegal manufacturing activity.

Authorities have appealed to the public to report any suspicious storage or illegal production of explosive materials to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Tirunelveli Hospital | Business Upturn

Deadly blast at illegal cracker manufacturing site in Tamil Nadu leaves two dead, one critical