Virudhunagar Firecracker Blast Kills 16, Rescue Ops Continue Amid Debris

Chennai, April 19 (TNA) A massive explosion ripped through a fireworks factory in Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, on Sunday, claiming at least 16 lives as rescue teams battled debris and fire to save trapped workers, with 30 people present during the blast.

Fire and Rescue Services recovered 16 bodies, rushed six critically injured to hospitals, and fear more remain buried under rubble, as fire tenders, police, and relief teams worked tirelessly at the site near Sattur.

The cause of the detonation remains unclear, with ongoing investigations into safety lapses in the highly regulated industry prone to such tragedies.

Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed profound grief on X, offering condolences to victims’ families, dispatching ministers to the scene, and instructing the district collector to provide immediate aid, including ex-gratia payments.

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