At approximately 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, 1 July 2025, an explosion occurred at the Gokulesh Fireworks facility in Chinnakamanpatti, near Sattur in the Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu. Around 20 workers were on site at the time of the incident. Eight people were killed and five others were injured, two of them critically, with 100% burns. Preliminary investigations suggest that the explosion was caused by the improper handling of explosive pellets during internal transportation. The explosion destroyed seven sheds and partially damaged three others. The factory had been in operation for around ten years and was licensed by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). The Sattur police have registered a case under the Explosives Act and arrested the foreman, while launching a manhunt for the factory owners, who are currently in hiding. Four fire and rescue teams comprising 26 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the fire and secure the site.
Massimo Serresi
