13 Killed in Second India Fireworks Blast in Three Days

The force of the blast was felt kilometres away – some residents mistook it for an earthquake – and nearby homes were damaged.

Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as locals joined rescue efforts, pulling out the injured and dead.

Kerala’s Revenue Minister K Rajan told the BBC that all fireworks units preparing for the upcoming Thrissur Pooram – a major annual Hindu temple festival – had permission to manufacture and store fireworks in designated areas.

The workers were preparing fireworks for the Thiruvambady Temple, one of the two main participants in the climactic displays of the Thrissur Pooram.

The festival’s famed fireworks – staged by Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Bhagavathy Temple – unfold in four phases, with the main overnight display drawing huge crowds on the seventh day.

Officials said food had been prepared for about 40 workers, suggesting at least that many were present when an explosion hit a shed.

While municipal chairman PN Surendran attributed the blast to high afternoon temperatures, officials said the cause remains unclear.

“There is still no clarity on how many workers were in the shed or the extent of injuries. It is suspected that extreme heat may have contributed to this tragic incident,” Surendran told reporters.