Overview
- The blast, which occurred Tuesday night, tore through a private building in Puliyankulam village and caused the structure to collapse.
- Rescue teams recovered the bodies of two workers identified as Ayyappan and Malathi and pulled a third person, Surya Prakash, from the rubble; he remains in critical condition in hospital.
- Kovilpatti West Police have registered a case and are conducting a detailed investigation that includes questioning locals and tracing the source of raw materials.
- Police say preliminary inquiries suggest highly inflammable chemicals used in firecracker production may have triggered the explosion and that the unit was operating without required licences.
- The incident highlights the public safety risk of unauthorised explosives production in residential areas and could lead to criminal charges and stricter local enforcement after forensic and legal processes conclude.